With all of the excitement surrounding the future prospects of Michigan’s new head coach, a current FBS head coach has been honored for his continuing success at the collegiate level.
Late Tuesday morning, the foundation that oversees the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award announced that Alabama’s Nick Saban is the 2014 recipient of the honor. The award comes on the heels of a regular season in which the Tide, with a new offensive coordinator and starting quarterback, went 12-1, won the SEC championship and earned one of the four spots in the College Football Playoff.
“His success on and off the field this season made our decision an easy one. He represents the pinnacle of coaching achievement,” Dodd foundation chairman Jim Terry said in a statement. “At Alabama, he has not only built an exceptional football program, but has prepared a community of young men to be leaders in the world, ensuring that Coach Dodd’s legacy will continue for generations to come.”
From the release:Saban firmly believes in giving back to the community and does so via his foundation, the Nick’s Kids Fund, which has distributed more than $4 million to more than 150 charities since 2007. This year alone, Nick’s Kids has awarded more than $600,000 to state and local organizations.
As a team, Saban’s squad boasts an impressive Academic Progress Rate of 975, which ranks third in the SEC, and a graduation rate of 73%. 7 members of this year’s # 1 ranked team will have earned their master’s degree and together 22 student athletes that will play in the Sugar Bowl will graduate from Alabama.