The Dodd Trophy is presented annually to the college football coach whose team excels on the field, in the classroom, and within the community. It's named after former Georgia Tech head coach Bobby Dodd and was established in 1976.

 

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Alabama has had two coaches win the award in the university's history, with Bill Curry winning it in 1989 and Nick Saban in 2014. Saban and the Tide won the SEC and made the first-ever College Football Playoff in 2014.

 

Now, Alabama has a chance to win the award again, as head coach Kalen DeBoer was named to the Dodd Trophy Preseason Watchlist on Monday.

 

Other premier coaches join DeBoer on the watchlist, including Brian Kelly, Marcus Freeman, and Dabo Swinney, who are all previous winners of the award.

 

Seven other SEC head coaches join DeBoer on the watchlist. Here is the full list of coaches on the watchlist:

Brett Bielema - Illinois
Jeff Brohm - Louisville
Matt Campbell - Iowa State
Curt Cignetti - Indiana
Mario Cristobal - Miami (Florida)
Spencer Danielson - Boise State
Ryan Day - Ohio State
Kalen DeBoer - Alabama
Kenny Dillingham - Arizona State
Eliah Drinkwitz - Missouri
Mike Elko - Texas A&M
James Franklin - Penn State
Marcus Freeman - Notre Dame
Josh Heupel - Tennessee
Brian Kelly - LSU
Brent Key - Georgia Tech
Chris Klieman - Kansas State
Dan Lanning - Oregon
Joey McGuire - Texas Tech
Jeff Monken - Army
Steve Sarkisian - Texas
Ryan Silverfield - Memphis
Kalani Sitake - BYU
Kirby Smart - Georgia
Dabo Swinney - Clemson
Brent Venables - Oklahoma

 

Kalen DeBoer boasts a career 113-16 record as a college football head coach but went just 9-4 in his first season at Alabama. The Tide and DeBoer will look to right the ship after his first season in Tuscaloosa.

 

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.

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