LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The defensive coordinator for fourth-ranked Michigan State has won the Broyles Award, given annually to college football's top assistant coach.
Pat Narduzzi was named the winner Tuesday at a luncheon in Little Rock. Narduzzi structured the Spartans' defense, lifting the team to a 12-1 record and a spot in the Rose Bowl against No. 5 Stanford.
The award is named for former Arkansas coach Frank Broyles, who is noted for developing assistants into head coaches. A number of his aides went on to stellar careers, including Hayden Fry, Joe Gibbs, Jimmy Johnson, Johnny Majors, Jackie Sherrill and Barry Switzer.
Fry, Majors and Switzer were on this year's selection committee.
Other finalists this year were Auburn's Rhett Lashlee, Baylor's Philip Montgomery, Florida State's Jeremy Pruitt and Kurt Roper from Duke.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.