FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — New Mexico defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky has been named one of 63 nominees for the 2025 Broyles Award, which honors college football’s top assistant coaches. The 63 nominees in this year’s class were selected from approximately 1,500 assistant coaches representing 131 FBS programs across the country. This is the largest group of nominees in the history of the Broyles Award.
Since its founding, the Broyles Award has honored 29 winners and more than 100 finalists, including some of the biggest names in college football coaching history, such as Steve Sarkisian, Lane Kiffin, Kirby Smart, Lincoln Riley, Dan Lanning, and Gus Malzahn. The 2024 Broyles Award winner was Al Golden, Notre Dame's defensive coordinator.
The Broyles Award winner will be announced live at the 30th Annual Broyles Award Ceremony on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Nowinsky has led the nation's most improved rush defense in the FBS, shaving off more than 106 yards per game from a year ago. UNM also features the third-most improved scoring defense in the country, going from 38.0 points per game to 23.0. UNM's defense has grabbed 10 takeaways in the last four games as part of a 5-game winning streak that has UNM on the verge of a potential hosting slot in the Mountain West championship game.
THE NOMINEES ARE: (Alphabetized by school name)
ALABAMA – Kane Wommack, Defensive Coordinator
ARIZONA – Danny Gonzales, Defensive Coordinator
ARIZONA STATE – Brian Ward, Defensive Coordinator
AUBURN – DJ Durkin, Defensive Coordinator/LB's
BAYLOR – Jake Spavital, Offensive Coordinator/QBs
BOISE STATE – Erik Chinander, Defensive Coordinator/DL
BOSTON COLLEGE – Matt Thurin, Special Teams Coordinator/Safeties
BYU – Aaron Roderick, Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach
CAL – Bryan Harsin, Offensive Coordinator/QB's
CINCINNATI – Nic Cardwell, Offensive Line
CLEMSON – Matt Luke, Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach
DUKE – Jonathan Brewer, Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach
EAST CAROLINA – Roy Tesh, DL/Defensive Run Game Coordinator
FLORIDA STATE – Gus Malzahn, Offensive Coordinator
GEORGIA – Mike Bobo, Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach
GEORGIA SOUTHERN – Blake Wilson, Special Teams Coordinator
GEORGIA TECH – Buster Faulkner, Offensive Coordinator
HOUSTON – Austin Armstrong, Defensive Coordinator/ILB
INDIANA – Bryant Haines, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
IOWA – LeVar Woods, Special Teams Coordinator
IOWA STATE – Jon Heacock, Defensive Coordinator
JACKSONVILLE STATE – Rick Trickett, Offensive Line
JAMES MADISON – Colin Hitschler, Defensive Coordinator
KANSAS – Matt Lubick, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
KENNESAW STATE – Marc Mattioli, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
KENT STATE – CJ Conrad, Special Teams Coordinator
LSU – Blake Baker, Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
MIAMI – Corey Hetherman, Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
MICHIGAN – Wink Martindale, Defensive Coordinator
MISSOURI – Curtis Luper, Running Backs
NAVY – Drew Cronic, Offensive Coordinator
NEBRASKA – Mike Ekeler, Special Teams Coordinator
NEW MEXICO – Spence Nowinsky, Defensive Coordinator
NORTH CAROLINA STATE – Kurt Roper, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
NORTH TEXAS – Sean Brophy, Passing Game Coordinator/QB's
NORTHWESTERN – Tim McGarigle, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
NOTRE DAME – Mike Denbrock, Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach
OHIO STATE – Matt Patricia, Defensive Coordinator
OKLAHOMA – Todd Bates, Associate Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Run Defense/Defensive Tackles
OLE MISS – Charlie Weis Jr., Offensive Coordinator
OREGON – Tosh Lupoi, Defensive Coordinator
PENN STATE – Justin Lustig, Special Teams Coordinator
RUTGERS – Kirk Ciarrocca, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
SAN DIEGO STATE – Rob Aurich, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
SAN JOSE STATE – Craig Stutzmann, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
SMU – Scott Symons, Defensive Coordinator
SOUTH CAROLINA – Joe DeCamillis, Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
SOUTH FLORIDA – Joel Gordon, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
TENNESSEE – Joey Halzle, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
TEXAS A&M – Collin Klein, OC/QB
TEXAS STATE – Tanner Burns, Associate Head Coach / Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Assistant
TEXAS TECH – Shiel Wood, Defensive Coordinator / Inside Linebackers Coach
TULANE – Johnathan Galante, Special Teams Coordinator
UAB – Alex Mortensen, Offensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach
UConn – Gordon Sammis, Offensive Coordinator
USC – Luke Huard, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
UTAH – Jason Beck, Offensive Coordinator
UTAH STATE – Kevin McGiven, Offensive Coordinator
VANDERBILT – Tim Beck, OC
VIRGINIA – John Rudzinski, Defensive Coordinator
WAKE FOREST – Scottie Hazelton, Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers
WESTERN KENTUCKY – Andy LaRussa, Assistant Head Coach/STC
WESTERN MICHIGAN – Chris O'Leary, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
The Selection Process
The Broyles Award selection committee is made up of former Hall of Fame coaches, members of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), and legendary broadcasters. The selection committee will vote to advance 15 semifinalists, five finalists, and one overall winner.
New for 2025
For the first time in the 30 year history of the Broyles Award, fans across America will have a direct voice in deciding which assistant coaches advance to the semifinalist round, finalist round, and ultimately who wins the award.
The Broyles Award Fan Vote launches today, Tuesday, November 25th at noon CST. Fans can cast votes for their favorite nominees throughout each stage of the competition. Each individual fan vote counts toward one collective “fan vote” in the official selection process of each round. Each vote is also an entry to win two VIP passes to the 30th Annual Broyles Award Ceremony.
Fan Voting Schedule:
Semifinal Fan Vote: November 25 at 11 a.m. Mountain Time through November 30 at 10 p.m.
Finalist Fan Vote: December 2 at 11 a.m. Mountain Time through December 7 at 10 p.m.
Winner Fan Vote: January 20 at 11 a.m. Mountain Time through January 26 at 10 p.m.
Fans can vote at BroylesAward.com/Vote.
About the Broyles Award
The Broyles Award was created in 1996 recognizing Coach Frank Broyles’ legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his hall of fame career as head coach at Arkansas. Proceeds from the Broyles Award benefit the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation, which provides free education and support resources for Alzheimer’s caregivers nationwide.
About Oaklawn
Located in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, Oaklawn is one of the premiere Thoroughbred racetracks in the country since 1904, best known as home of the Arkansas Derby. Oaklawn holds live racing from Dec 12, 2025 to May 2, 2026 and simulcast racing throughout the year.
Fans can learn more, view nominees, and cast their votes at BroylesAward.com/vote or follow updates on our Broyles Award social media pages: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.