TCU’s Sonny Dykes was named Associated Press Coach of the Year on Monday after leading the No 3 Horned Frogs to the College Football Knockout Qualifier in his first season with the school. .
Dykes received 37 of the 46 votes in the first place and 120 points from the top 25 AP voters to become the second TCU to win the award presented by the Regional Bank. The first two championships belonged to Gary Patterson (2009, 2014), which Dykes replaced after the previous season.
“It was the team’s ultimate award,” Dykes told the AP. “It’s a sign of everyone in our office, the coach, the players, everyone, because more than ever in college football it’s really been a team effort. group.”
TCU (12-1) faces No. 2 Michigan (13-0) on December 31 in the Fiesta Bowl for a spot in the national championship.
Tulane coach Willie Fritz was second with 40 points and two votes in first place, followed by John Heupel of Tennessee (38 points, one) and last year’s winner, Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh (28 points). , five). Georgia’s Kirby Smart (15 points) also received the vote in first place.
Dykes, 53, is on his fourth stop after stints with Louisiana Tech, California and SMU. Texan and the son of longtime Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes, Sonny Dykes was 83-64 in 13 seasons as head coach.
“It’s not always been the case and I’ve been on both sides and so things like this can mean more to me than to someone,” Dykes said. “I went through January 11 and I was fired. I was on the top and then at the bottom. I’m always grateful for those bad times because it really makes you appreciate it. better times.”
Dykes’ path to becoming AP Coach of the Year is unique. The award was established in 1998, and no coach has ever won first coach of the year in his fourth stop as head coach of Bowl Subdivision.
Dykes moved to town to take over TCU after working with rival SMU for 5 years. Playing against the Horned Frogs every year, he knew exactly what kind of team he would be on.
Instead of overhauling the roster for last season’s 5-7 TCU team, Dykes got his hands on the transfer portal to fill some holes, but mostly took what he inherited and turned it into one the best teams in the country.
“Sometimes it’s more of a matter of the chemistry of things and trying to get to the chemistry of those rooms rather than necessarily adding talent,” says Dykes. “I think that part is really overlooked. It’s just the chemistry and creating competition and all that.”
The Horned Frogs started the season unappreciated and didn’t lose until dropping the Big 12 championship in extra time to Kansas State.
“We didn’t really have any expectations when the new year started,” Dykes said. “We thought we had a pretty good chance, but we’ve been gaining confidence every week and we’ve got some kids that are really tough and competitive, and that’s made things well. more.”
Dykes is one of a number of head coaches in major college football who have worked for Mike Leach in his early career. Leach died last week at the age of 61 from complications from heart disease. He’s in his third season at Mississippi State after stints at Texas Tech and Washington State.
Dykes called Leach one of the most influential people of his career, second only to his father.
“Definitely unique,” Dykes said.
