Bud Foster Wins the Broyles Award

After his unit finished #1 in the nation in total defense for the second
year in a row, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster was honored with
the Frank Broyles Award on Tuesday in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Broyles Award is given annually to college football’s top assistant
coach. This is the first time Foster has won the Broyles Award. He was a
finalist in 1999, 2001 and 2005, but could never manage to win the award. He is
the only 4-time finalist for the Broyles Award.

Foster deserved the award this year more than ever. Following the 2005 season,
during which the defense finished #1 in total defense, three defensive linemen,
a linebacker and two defensive backs made their way to the NFL. That’s a lot
of star power to replace, but Foster and his coaching staff turned in one of
their best seasons.

Bud Foster’s defense finished the season ranked first in pass defense,
scoring defense and total defense. They were 11th in rushing defense, and
second in pass efficiency defense. They also had the #1 third down defense in
the nation, and pitched four shutouts during the regular season.

Six of the 10 Broyles Award winners before Foster went on to become a head
coach. They are: David Cutcliffe (Ole Miss), Ralph Friedgen (Maryland), Mark
Mangino (Kansas), Randy Shannon (Miami), Brian VanGorder (Georgia Southern) and
Gene Chizik (Iowa State).
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Two other past winners went on to coach in the NFL.

The other finalists for the 2006 Broyles Award were Arkansas defensive
coordinator Reggie Herring, Ohio State passing game coordinator and quarterbacks
coach Joe Daniels, Louisville offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach
Paul Petrino, and Oklahoma associate head coach, defensive coordinator and
linebackers coach Brent Venables.