Indiana associate head coach and former 3-time national championship University of Sioux Falls head coach Kalen DeBoer is one of 15 semifinalists for the 2019 Broyles Award, the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation announced on Tuesday afternoon. The award honors college football’s top assistant coaches.
From the list of 15, five finalists will be selected and invited to travel to Little Rock, Ark., where the 2019 Broyles Award winner will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Marriott Hotel.
DeBoer, who posted a 67-3 overall record (49-1 conference) in his five years at the helm in Sioux Falls, also serves as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He is IU’s first Broyles Award semifinalist. He joined the program in the offseason and has been instrumental in its 7-4 record. The Hoosiers are bowl eligible for the third time in five years and clinched their first winning season since 2007.
Indiana is first in the Big Ten in pass offense (306.1, 14th nationally), second in time of possession (33:43, 9th), completion percentage (69.5, 8th), first downs (23.6, 21st), completions (278, 10th) and pass attempts (400, 25th), tied for second in sacks allowed (1.64, T-38th), third in total offense (436.5, 42nd) and pass yards per attempt (8.4, T-23rd), tied for third in fumbles lost (6, T-39th), fourth in pass efficiency (153.5, 24th) and third-down conversions (46.9, 20th), fifth in turnovers lost (14, T-42nd), sixth in scoring offense (33.5, 46th) and pass touchdowns (21, T-39th), and seventh in red zone offense (88.0, 45th).
Behind quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. (6 starts) and Peyton Ramsey (5 starts), the 2019 offense has improved at least 40 spots in the national rankings from 2018 in time of possession (+86), average yards per pass (+84), average yards per reception (+72), red zone touchdowns (+67), 20-yard passing plays (+64), 20-yard scrimmage plays (+53), points per game (+42) and total touchdowns (+42).
IU has reached 30 points eight times in 11 games. Its streaks of 30-pointers in five-straight conference games and six-consecutive games overall (tied), both program records, were snapped at No. 9 Penn State two weekends ago. The eight 30-point games are tied for the second-most in school single-season history (1988, 2007, 2013) behind the 2015 Hoosiers (9).
Sixteen players have caught a pass, 13 have recorded a rush and 13 have reached the end zone in DeBoer’s multiple attack. Tight ends have combined for 52 catches for 569 yards and five touchdowns, while the running backs have caught 42 for 322 yards with two TDs.
In 2018, tight ends brought in 21 balls for 232 yards and two scores, while backs added 45 receptions for 227 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 12 games.
Indiana (5) and Washington State (7) are the only two FBS teams with five pass-catchers with 20-plus receptions and 350-plus yards.
The winner of the 2018 Broyles Award was Mike Locksley, Offensive Coordinator at Alabama. Winners from the past five seasons are not eligible for the Broyles Award. For a list of all previous winners and finalists, visit the Broyles Award website.
Proceeds from the 2019 Broyles Award support the mission of the Broyles Foundation; to provide a game plan through education, support, and resources to Alzheimer’s caregivers. The Broyles Foundation can be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Riceland Foods serves as the presenting sponsor of the 2019 Broyles Award. Riceland is the world’s largest miller and marketer of rice with its products sold across the nation and to more than 75 foreign destinations.
About the Broyles Award
The Broyles Award was created in 1996 recognizing Coach Frank Broyles’ legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his hall of fame career at Arkansas. You can follow the Broyles Award on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The 15 semifinalists are:
INDIANA – Kalen DeBoer, Offensive Coordinator/QB
AUBURN – Kevin Steele, Defensive Coordinator
BAYLOR – Phil Snow, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
CLEMSON – Jeff Scott, Co-Offensive Coordinator/WR
GEORGIA – Dan Lanning, Defensive Coordinator/Outside LBs
LSU – Joe Brady, Passing Game Coordinator/WR
MICHIGAN – Don Brown, Defensive Coordinator
MINNESOTA – Kirk Ciarrocca, Offensive Coordinator/QB
NAVY – Brian Newberry, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
OHIO STATE – Jeff Hafley, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
OKLAHOMA – Alex Grinch, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
OREGON – Andy Avalos, Defensive Coordinator
SMU – Rhett Lashlee, Offensive Coordinator/QB
WISCONSIN – Jim Leonhard, Defensive Coordinator
UTAH – Morgan Scalley, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
