John Chavis wins Broyles Award

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis won the annual Broyles Award given to the top college assistant coach on Tuesday.

Chavis is in his third year for the top-ranked Tigers, who will play Alabama for the national championship next month.

Chavis is the 16th winner of the award named in honor of former Arkansas coach Frank Broyles, whose assistant coaches went on to become notable head coaches at the college or professional level. They include Barry Switzer, Jimmy Johnson, Joe Gibbs and Jackie Sherrill.

The 55-year-old Chavis guided an LSU defense that was second in the country in both scoring and total defense. The Tigers (13-0) allowed 10.5 points and 252.1 yards per game while finishing the regular season undefeated and winning the Southeastern Conference championship over Georgia.

Chavis arrived in Baton Rouge, La., in 2009 after spending 14 seasons as the defensive coordinator at Tennessee. While with the Volunteers, he helped Tennessee win at least nine games per season 11 times.

He had an immediate impact upon his arrival with LSU, helping turn around a defense that had ranked near the bottom of the SEC in 2008. The Tigers improved to third in scoring defense in Chavis' first season, and they followed that up by leading the SEC in pass defense in 2010.

LSU made another leap on defense this season on its way to the BCS national championship game. Led by Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu, the Tigers opened the season with a win over No. 3 Oregon and remain college football's only undefeated team.

They were second only to the Crimson Tide in scoring and total defense, tying for the SEC lead in interceptions with 18 and leading with 37 sacks.

Other finalists for the award were Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst, Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, former Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee and Alabama assistant head coach Sal Sunseri.

Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn won the award last season. Other past winners include Gene Chizik, Norm Chow, Randy Shannon, Mark Mangino, Ralph Friedgen, and David Cutcliffe.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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