Cristobal Named to Dodd Trophy Watch List
ATLANTA – University of Miami head coach Mario Cristobal was selected to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc announced Monday.
This year’s list includes 21 of the nation’s top college football coaches representing all Power Four conferences, as well as an independent.
Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc. and presented by PNC Bank, The Dodd Trophy, college football’s most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s coaching philosophy.
The watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. taking into consideration each program’s Academic Progress Rate (APR), Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, as well as projected success for the 2024 season.
“The Dodd Trophy continues to be the most coveted coach of the year award due to what we call the ‘Dodd Difference,’ where coaches are held to a higher standard, both on and off the field,” said Jim Terry, chairman of the Boddy Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. “This award is about more than just wins on the gridiron, but also focuses on how these coaches embody leadership with their student-athletes in the classroom and throughout their communities. As a result, we only consider coaches whose programs have earned the highest APRs and require coaches to have at least two years of experience leading their current programs, so that they have had time to establish a precedent at their universities.”
The 2024 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank Preseason Watch List:
Jeff Brohm, Louisville
Mario Cristobal, Miami
Ryan Day, Ohio State
Dave Doeren, NC State
Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
James Franklin, Penn State
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
Josh Heupel, Tennessee
Brian Kelly, LSU
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Chris Klieman, Kansas State
Lance Leipold, Kansas
Mike Norvell, Florida State
Brent Pry, Virginia Tech
Lincoln Riley, USC
Steve Sarkisian, Texas
Kirby Smart, Georgia
Dabo Swinney, Clemson
Kyle Whittingham, Utah
A midseason watch list – adding to or narrowing the field – will be released in the fall. A panel consisting of previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2024 season. The winner of the 2024 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Starting in September on a weekly basis, the Dodd Coach of the Week Award will also honor coaches whose program embodies the award’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity, while also having success on the playing field during the previous week.
