The Rotary Club of Little Rock announced its nominees for the 2014 Broyles Award, and five SEC coaches were included on the 40-person list. The Broyles Award is handed out annually to the nation’s top assistant coach.

The five SEC nominees are Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith, Missouri defensive coordinator Dave Steckel, Mississippi State defensive coordinator Geoff Collins and Ole Miss defensive coordinator Dave Wommack.

All five coordinators have their units performing at high levels. Kiffin has juiced up Alabama’s offense in his first season in Tuscaloosa, while Smith, Steckel, Collins and Wommack all helm some of the most fearsome defenses in the country. Kiffin, Collins and Steckel have all helped their teams get within a game of making it to the SEC Championship, while Ole Miss is No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense and Arkansas is coming off two straight shutout wins over ranked teams.

The award winner will be announced Dec. 9. The field will be narrowed down to five finalists before then. Michigan State’s Marc Narduzzi won the 2013 award.