TCU’Sonny Dykes was named the Associated Press Coach of the Year on Monday, leading the Horned Frogs to their first college football playoffs in the program’s first year.
Dykes received 37 of the 46 first-place votes and earned 120 points from the AP Top 25 voters, becoming only the second TCU coach to win, after Gary Patterson. Patterson, who was replaced by Dykes after last season, won the honor in 2009 and 2014.
“This is the ultimate team award,” Dykes told AP. “This literally shows everyone in our office, the coaches, the players, everyone, because more than ever in college football, it’s a true team effort.”
Tulane manager Willy Fritz finished second with 40 points and two first-place votes. Tennessee’s Josh Heupel (38 points, 1) was his third, and last year’s winner Jim Harbaugh of Michigan (28 points, 5) was his fourth. Georgia coach Kirby Smart (15 points, 1 first place vote) rounded out the top five.
Dykes, 53, came from Louisiana Tech, California, and SMU before landing at TCU this offseason. He took over for the Horned Frogs, who finished 5-7 last year, and turned the program into a Big 12 force after starting the season unranked.
TCU went through the regular season undefeated, but ultimately lost to then-No. 1 in the Big 12 Championship Game. 11 Kansas. The Horned Frogs still finished the campaign 12-1 and earned a spot in the Fiesta Bowl, where they will face No. 2 Michigan on December 31 to earn a spot in the National Championship.