Ohio State’s Heacock wins Broyles Award

Published 2:27 pm Tuesday, December 4, 2007

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock, whose unit held opponents without a first down on nearly half of their possessions, won the Broyles Award on Tuesday, given annually to the college football’s top assistant coach.

The Buckeyes, who play LSU in the BCS championship game Jan. 7, allowed just under 11 points per game. Opponents went “three-and-out” on 48.5 percent of their possessions.

Other finalists for the award were Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christensen, who is a graduate of Everett High School; West Virginia offensive coordinator Calvin Magee; Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, and Kansas defensive coordinator Bill Young.

The Broyles Award is named for Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles. Broyles formerly was the Razorbacks’ football coach and more than 25 of his assistants became head coaches, including Joe Gibbs, Jimmy Johnson, Johnny Majors and Jackie Sherrill.