Three Alabama coaches lead a list of five SEC coaches total named finalists for Football Scoop’s Coaches of the Year. The nominees and the award are made by other coaches from across the nation. Each award is given to the assistant coaches and coordinators by their title and position.

Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart leads the SEC candidates. He is up for defensive coordinator of the year against Clemson’s Brent Venables, former Auburn head coach and North Carolina’s Gene Chizik and Boston College’s Don Brown.

Kirby Smart took the head coaching job at Georgia thanks to his efforts as Nick Saban’s defensive coordinator the past eight seasons. Smart was also a finalist for the Broyles Award, given to the top assistant coach in the country. Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley won the Broyles Award.

Alabama’s two other nominees are offensive line coach Mario Cristobal and defensive line coach Bo Davis. It is clear Alabama put a premium on winning the line of scrimmage this year in dominating its way into the College Football Playoff.

Other nominees from the SEC include Missouri linebacker coach Barry Odom and Florida defensive backs coach Kirk Callahan.