ATLANTA (Oct. 27, 2025) - Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. today announced that Vanderbilt head football coach Clark Lea has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Presented by PNC Bank.
The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.
Lea earned this week's honor after guiding No. 10 Vanderbilt to a 17-10 victory over No. 15 Missouri on Saturday at a sold-out FirstBank Stadium. The win capped a historic day in Nashville where Vanderbilt improved to 7-1 for the first time since 1941 and matched a program record of seven wins before November, which was last achieved in 1915. Vanderbilt also tied Alabama for the most top-15 wins in the nation thus far this season with three.
Despite both teams entering the day with top-25 offenses, the game was a defensive battle throughout. Vanderbilt held Missouri to 156 total yards in the first half, its lowest output through two quarters this season, and kept the Tigers scoreless on a goal-line stand early in the third quarter.
Running back Makhilyn Young provided the game's biggest spark, breaking free for an 80-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, which was also the Commodores' longest play of the season and longest rush since 2022. Quarterback Diego Pavia added the go-ahead score in the fourth, capping a nine-play, five-minute drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, his 20th total touchdown of the year.
Defensively, the Commodores forced a crucial turnover when CJ Heard stripped the ball and recovered the fumble to set up the game-winning drive. Vanderbilt also held the Tigers to their lowest point total of the season and fewest since Oct. 26, 2024. On special teams, Brock Taylor extended his streak to 18 consecutive made field goals, the fifth-longest active streak in FBS play.
"Coach Lea continues to raise the standard at Vanderbilt with the way his team competes and responds in big moments," said Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. "Earning a top-15 win on one of the program's biggest stages reflects the discipline, confidence and leadership that define the approach he instills in his players."
Now in his fifth season at the helm of his alma mater, Lea has continued to reshape Vanderbilt football into a model of success both on and off the field. Since taking over in 2021, he has guided the Commodores to steady and continuous improvement, highlighted by their first winning season and bowl victory in over a decade.
Off the field, Lea has placed a strong emphasis on academic achievement and character development. Under his leadership, Vanderbilt football has maintained a 988 Academic Progress Rate and a 91 Graduation Success Rate, ranking among the best in the SEC.
In the community, through Vanderbilt's Commitment to Social Impact initiative, Lea and his team have strengthened their ties to the Nashville area by giving back in meaningful ways. This past summer, Commodore players partnered with the local nonprofit PENCIL to pack thousands of backpacks with school supplies for Metro Nashville Public Schools, helping ensure students were prepared for the new academic year. Efforts like these underscore Lea's belief that success in football should extend beyond the field, fostering service, integrity and leadership throughout the program.
"Coach Lea has built a culture rooted on accountability, service and academic success," said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and president. "What he's doing at Vanderbilt goes well beyond the field and it's about setting a standard of excellence that embodies the true spirit of The Dodd Trophy."
The Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank – along with the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Award – celebrates the head coach of a FBS team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, the award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The winner of the 2025 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
