Tom Herman named 2014 Broyles Award winner

Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman has been named as the 2014 Broyles Award winner, given annually to the nation's top assistant coach in college football. Herman joins a prestigious list of names that have won the award in years past, including Michigan State's Pat Narduzzi, Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, and former Alabama assistant Kirby Smart. Herman is the second assistant from Ohio State to win the award, following former defensive coordinator Jim Heacock, who won the award in 2007.

The finalists this year included Herman, Alabama's Lane Kiffin, Missouri defensive coordinator Dave Steckel, Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost, and TCU co-offensive coordinator Doug Meacham. Kiffin had been mistakenly reported as having won the award this morning.

Herman's win is well deserved after helping guide Ohio State's offense to yet another prolific season despite losing two Heisman contending quarterbacks to injury in Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett. In addition, Herman helped prepare sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones for the Big Ten championship, which was his first start as an Ohio State quarterback.

With Herman already receiving interest from outside the program, it wouldn't be a surprise to see more programs reaching out to him to test his interest in a head coaching position. The Broyles Award has usually led assistants to solid head coaching jobs as well and it will only add to Herman's already solid resume.