LITTLE ROCK — Gus Malzahn has been named the winner of the 2010 Frank Broyles Award, the annual honor given to the nation's top assistant coach.
Malzahn, the offensive coordinator at Auburn, received the award at a luncheon at The Peabody in Downtown Little Rock.
Malzahn, a former University of Arkansas assistant, credited the award's namesake, Frank Broyles, with helping him transition into college coaching. He also thanked his coaching colleagues and players for helping him become a better coach.
"When I think about this, I look at the people that helped me get here," Malzahn said shortly after accepting the award before a capacity crowd. "The table of former assistants helped me in high school. I think about the assistants at Arkansas, Tulsa and Auburn that helped me get in this situaiton. And the players. This is a players' game and I 've been blessed to have very, very good players everywehre I've been."
The Fort Smith native known for his innovative no-huddle offense, led Shiloh Christian and Springdale high schools to state championships before becoming the offensive coordinator at Arkansas.
In 2007 he went to the same position at the University of Tulsa .
Malzahn said after the ceremony that he hopes to become a head coach - as many of the past Broyles winners have - but that he's "in no hurry" to do so and will wait for the right opportunity.
The other nominees were:
- Dick Bumpas, Texas Christian University, Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach
- Paul Chryst, University of Wisconsin, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Dana Holgorsen, Oklahoma State University, Offensive Coordinator
- Greg Roman, Stanford University, Offensive Coordinator