Football Writers Association of America
ALL-TIME FWAA NATIONAL COACHES OF THE YEAR
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award
Year Honored Head Coaches Record Rank
2021 Luke Fickell, Cincinnati    
  Finalists: Blake Anderson (Utah State); Dave Aranda (Baylor); Thomas Hammock (NIU); Jim Harbaugh (Michigan); Billy Napier (Louisiana); Pat Narduzzi (Pitt); Nick Saban (Alabama); Kalani Sitake (BYU); Kirby Smart (Georgia); Jeff Traylor (UTSA); Mel Tucker (Michigan State); Kyle Whittingham (Utah)
2020 Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina 11-1 14
  Finalists: Tom Allen (Indiana); Brent Brennan (San Josι State); Matt Campbell (Iowa State); Karl Dorrell (Colorado); Luke Fickell (Cincinnati); Nick Saban (Alabama); Kilani Sitake (BYU); Dabo Swinney (Clemson)
2019 Ed Orgeron, LSU 15-0 1
  Finalists: Ryan Day (Ohio State); Eliah Drinkwitz (Appalachian State); Sonny Dykes (SMU); P.J. Fleck (Minnesota); Bryan Harsin (Boise State); Mike Norvell (Memphis); Matt Rhule (Baylor); Dabo Swinney (Clemson)
2018 Bill Clark, UAB 11-3 UR
  Finalists: Josh Heupel (UCF); Brian Kelly (Notre Dame); Jeff Monken (Army); Lincoln Riley (Oklahoma); Nick Saban (Alabama); Dabo Swinney (Clemson); Jeff Tedford (Fresno State)
2017 Scott Frost, UCF 13-0 6
  Finalists: Bill Clark (UAB); Lane Kiffin (Florida Atlantic); Jeff Monken (Army); Lincoln Riley (Oklahoma); Kirby Smart (Georgia); Dabo Swinney (Clemson); Jeff Tedford (Fresno State)
2016 Mike MacIntyre, Colorado 10-3 17
  Finalists: P.J. Fleck (Western Michigan); James Franklin (Penn State); Chirs Petersen (Washington); Nick Saban (Alabama)
2015 Kirk Ferentz, Iowa 12-2 9
  Finalists: Mark Dantonio (Michigan State); Tom Herman (Houston); Brian Kelly (Notre Dame); Matt Rhule (Temple); David Shaw (Stanford); Bob Stoops (Oklahoma); Dabo Swinney (Clemson)
2014 Gary Patterson, TCU 12-1 3
  Finalists: Art Briles (Baylor); Jimbo Fisher (Florida State); Justin Fuente (Memphis); Bryan Harsin (Boise State); Mark Helfrich (Oregon); Urban Meyer (Ohio State); Nick Saban (Alabama)
2013 Gus Malzahn, Auburn 13-1 2
  Finalists: Art Briles (Baylor); David Cutcliffe (Duke); Mark Dantonio (Michigan State); Jimbo Fisher (Florida State); George O'Leary (UCF); Gary Pinkel (Missouri); David Shaw (Stanford).
2012 Brian Kelly, Notre Dame 12-1 4
  Finalists: Gary Andersen (Utah State); Dave Doeren (Northern Illinois); Urban Meyer (Ohio State), Will Muschamp (Florida); Bill O’Brien (Penn State); David Shaw (Stanford); Bill Snyder (Kansas State); Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M).
2011 Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State 12-1 3
  Finalists: Brady Hoke (Michigan); Les Miles (LSU); Bill Snyder (Kansas State); Dabo Swinney (Clemson)
2010 Chip Kelly, Oregon 12-1 3
  Finalists: Bret Bielema (Wisconsin); Gene Chizik (Auburn); Mark Dantonio (Michigan State); Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State); Jim Harbaugh (Stanford); Gary Patterson (TCU); Chris Petersen (Boise State)
2009 Gary Patterson, TCU 12-1 6
  Finalists: Mack Brown (Texas); Paul Johnson (Georgia Tech); Brian Kelly (Cincinnati); Chip Kelly (Oregon); Chris Petersen (Boise State); Nick Saban (Alabama)
2008 Nick Saban, Alabama 12-2 6
  Finalists: Mack Brown (Texas); Pete Carroll (USC); Mike Leach (Texas Tech); Urban Meyer (Florida); Joe Paterno (Penn State); Chris Petersen (Boise State); Bob Stoops (Oklahoma); Kyle Whittingham (Utah)
2007 Mark Mangino, Kansas 12-1 7
  Finalists: Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech); Troy Calhoun (Air Force); Dennis Erickson (Arizona State); June Jones (Hawaii); Gary Pinkel (Missouri); Jim Tressel (Ohio State); Ron Zook (Illinois)
2006 Greg Schiano, Rutgers 11-2 12
  Finalists: Art Briles (Houston); Lloyd Carr (Michigan); Jim Grobe (Wake Forest); June Jones (Hawaii); Bronco Mendenhall (BYU); Houston Nutt (Arkansas); Chris Petersen (Boise State); Bob Stoops (Oklahoma)
2005 Charlie Weis, Notre Dame 9-3 9
  Finalists: Mack Brown (Texas); Pete Carroll (USC); Karl Dorrell (UCLA); George O'Leary (Central Florida); Joe Paterno (Penn State)
2004 Urban Meyer, Utah 12-0 4
  Finalists: Pete Carroll (USC); Kirk Ferentz (Iowa); Mike Price (UTEP); Jeff Tedford (California); Tommy Tuberville (Auburn)
2003 Nick Saban, LSU 13-1 2
  Finalists: Pete Carroll (USC); Paul Johnson (Navy); Steve Kragthorpe (Tulsa); Gary Patterson (TCU); Bob Stoops (Oklahoma)
2002 Jim Tressel, Ohio State 14-0 1
  Finalists: Larry Coker (Miami); Kirk Ferentz (Iowa); Tyrone Willingham (Notre Dame)
2001 Ralph Friedgen, Maryland 10-2 11
  Finalists: Ron Turner (Illinois); Mike Price (Washington State)
2000 Bob Stoops, Oklahoma 13-0 1
  Finalists: Dennis Erickson (Oregon State); John L. Smith (Louisville)
1999 Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech 11-1 2
  Finalists: June Jones (Hawaii); Glen Mason (Minnesota).
1998 Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee 13-0 1
  Finalists: Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin); Mike Bellotti (Oregon); Tommy Bowden (Tulane); Houston Nutt (Arkansas); George O'Leary (Georgia Tech); Larry Smith (Missouri); Bill Snyder (Kansas State); Bob Toledo (UCLA); Dick Tomey (Arizona)
1997 Mike Price, Washington State 10-2 9
  Finalists: Bobby Bowden (Florida State); Mack Brown (North Carolina); Lloyd Carr (Michigan); Jim Donnan (Georgia); Dennis Franchione (New Mexico); Tom Osborne (Nebraska); Joe Paterno (Penn State); Gary Pinkel (Toledo); Bob Simmons (Oklahoma State); Joe Tiller (Purdue); Bob Toledo (UCLA)
FWAA Coach of the Year Award
1996 Bruce Snyder, Arizona State 11-1 4
1995 Gary Barnett, Northwestern 10-2 8
1994 Rich Brooks, Oregon 9-4 11
1993 Terry Bowden, Auburn 11-0 4
1992 Gene Stallings, Alabama 13-0 1
1991 Don James, Washington 12-0 2
1990 Bobby Ross, Georgia Tech 11-0-1 2
1989 Bill McCartney, Colorado 11-1 4
1988 Lou Holtz, Notre Dame 12-0 1
1987 Dick MacPherson, Syracuse 11-0-1 4
1986 Joe Paterno, Penn State 12-0 1
1985 Fisher DeBerry, Air Force 12-1 8
1984 LaVell Edwards, BYU 13-0 1
1983 Howard Schnellenberger, Miami 11-1 1
1982 Joe Paterno, Penn State 11-1 1
1981 Danny Ford, Clemson 12-0 1
1980 Vince Dooley, Georgia 12-0 1
1979 Earle Bruce, Ohio State 11-1 4
1978 Joe Paterno, Penn State 11-1 4
1977 Lou Holtz, Arkansas 11-1 3
1976 Johnny Majors, Pittsburgh 12-0 1
1975 Woody Hayes, Ohio State 11-1 4
1974 Grant Teaff, Baylor 8-4 14
1973 Johnny Majors, Pittsburgh 6-5-1 UR
1972 John McKay, USC 12-0 1
1971 Bob Devaney, Nebraska 13-0 1
1970 Alex Agase, Northwestern 6-4 UR
1969 Bo Schembechler, Michigan 8-3 9
1968 Woody Hayes, Ohio State 10-0 1
1967 John Pont, Indiana 9-1 4
1966 Tom Cahill, Army 8-2 UR
1965 Duffy Daugherty, Michigan State 10-1 2
1964 Ara Parseghian, Notre Dame 9-1 3
1963 Darrell Royal, Texas 10-0 1
1962 John McKay, USC 10-0 1
1961 Darrell Royal, Texas 9-1 3
1960 Murray Warmath, Minnesota 8-1 1
1959 Ben Schwartzwalder, Syracuse 10-0 1
1958 Paul Dietzel, LSU 10-0 1
1957 Woody Hayes, Ohio State 8-1 2
Note: Rank is final ranking in The Associated Press poll. The AP has ranked 25 teams since 1989. From 1957-88, the AP ranked 20 teams, except 1962-67, when it ranked 10 teams.