Bryant Haines won the 2026 Broyles Award.
Indiana's defensive coordinator claimed the honor as college football's top assistant coach during the 30th annual ceremony on February 12, 2026, in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Award Background

The Broyles Award, named after legendary Arkansas coach Frank Broyles, recognizes the nation's best assistant coach each year.
It's selected by a committee of Hall of Fame coaches, Football Writers Association members, and broadcasters, with fan voting influencing finalists for the first time in 2026—nearly 90,000 votes were cast.

Past winners include big names like Kirby Smart, Lincoln Riley, and the 2024 recipient Al Golden from Notre Dame, highlighting its track record for spotting future head coaches.

Finalists Breakdown

Haines edged out a stacked field of five finalists in a ceremony hosted at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, emceed by ESPN's Holly Rowe and Mark May.

Coach| Team| Role| Notable Buzz
---|---|---|---
Bryant Haines (Winner)| Indiana| Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers| First IU coach to win; finalist in 2025 too; called a "mad scientist" for defensive schemes. 24
Mike Bobo| Georgia| Offensive Coordinator & QBs| Veteran play-caller facing fan scrutiny despite strong receiver screens. 16
Corey Hetherman| Miami| Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers| Top fan votes in finalist round. 1
Matt Patricia| Ohio State| Defensive Coordinator| NFL experience as a "sin- eater" for tough defenses. 16
Shiel Wood| Texas Tech| Defensive Coordinator & Inside LBs| Strong contender from a rising program. 1

Why Haines Stood Out

In his second year as a finalist, Haines transformed Indiana's defense, making history as the Hoosiers' first Broyles winner—only the third IU assistant to even reach finalist status.

His innovative schemes earned rave reviews, building on prior semifinalists like Kane Wommack (2020) and Kalen DeBoer (2019).

Indiana fans erupted online, with forums buzzing about Haines' rise amid the team's unexpected 2025 success.

Trending Reactions

Social media and Reddit lit up post-announcement, blending celebration with debates on other finalists like Bobo's play-calling woes.

"It's unbelievable that Bobo doesn't even have the luxury of making a single questionable play call without facing criticism." – r/CFB user

Fans noted the award's predictive power: 2019 finalists alone produced NFL head coaches Joe Brady and Jeff Hafley.

As of February 13, 2026, Haines' win dominates college football headlines, fueling speculation on his next move.

TL;DR: Bryant Haines (Indiana DC) is your 2026 Broyles champ, first for IU, over stars like Bobo and Patricia.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.