In the closest race of the SDS 2014 SEC awards season, Mizzou’s Gary Pinkel has edged out Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen for the league’s coach of the year honor by a single vote from our eight-member editorial staff.

RELATED: 2014 SDS SEC MVP; The SDS 2014 All-SEC Team; SDS Offensive MVP; SDS Defensive MVP

Pinkel received four first-place votes and Mullen three after helping the Tigers to their second consecutive Eastern Division title despite being projected to finish fourth in the preseason behind South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Alabama’s Nick Saban garnered the remaining first-place vote.

Mullen, now in his sixth year in Starkville, helped the Bulldogs to their first No. 1 ranking in school history and directed three straight wins over Top 10 teams midway through the season. He came into the 2014 campaign with 16 consecutive losses against ranked teams.

Pinkel helped the Tigers navigate past early-season losses to Indiana and Georgia to win their final six games, securing a spot in Atlanta.