Alabama OC Mike Locksley named 2018 Broyles Award winner
By Andrew Olson
Published:
The Frank and Barbara Broyles Foundation announced Tuesday that Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley is the winner of this year’s Broyles Award. The award is given annually to the nation’s top assistant coach and was created in 1996 in honor of the late Frank Broyles’ legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his time as head coach at Arkansas. Tony Elliott, co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Clemson, won the award last year.
Locksley’s play-calling (with the help of Heisman Trophy finalist Tua Tagovailoa and an elite supporting cast) helped make the offense the star of the show at a school known for dominating defenses. Alabama was the first team to beat all its regular-season opponents by at least 20 points (22 to be exact) since Yale in 1888. It has also been a record-breaking season for Tagovailoa.
Locksley won over fellow finalists Army defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott, Mississippi State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop and Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long.
A photo of Locksley with the trophy, presented in Little Rock, Ark., can be viewed below:
We’re proud to announce 2018’s WINNER of the 23rd annual @BroylesAward.
💥Michael Locksley, @AlabamaFTBL. pic.twitter.com/BvwEGkNkFd
— BROYLES AWARD (@BroylesAward) December 4, 2018
Locksley’s time as the nation’s top assistant could be short-lived. He is reportedly a top candidate for Maryland’s head coaching vacancy.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
