Kane Wommack 'Thankful' and 'Honored' to be A Broyles Award Finalist

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Broyles Award for the nation’s top assistant coach will be award tomorrow afternoon and Indiana defensive coordinator Kane Wommack is one of five finalists. Wommack is also the first Hoosier assistant to be named a finalist for the award as well. On Sunday night, the Broyles Award released videos from each finalist.

Wommack said he is “just so thankful for the opportunity that was presented and being a finalist for the Broyles award. You know, I've grown up my entire life, wanting to be a college football coach, and growing up in the state of Arkansas I think it has left me with just a firm understanding of the the importance of this award and what Coach Broyles, and and and what the Broyles award had meant to our profession in such a great way.”

Under Wommack’s tutelage the Hoosier defense is leading the Big Ten in interceptions (17, 2nd nationally), opponent red zone scores (57.9, 1st), sacks (3.3, T-8th) and takeaways (20, T-10th), third in opponent passing efficiency (115.7, 15th), fourth in scoring defense (19.4, 19th), opponent completion percentage (57.1, T-26th) and opponent third-down conversions (36.7, 32nd), fifth in rush defense (135.7, T-32nd) and sixth in total defense (361.7, 36th).

Wommack comes from a family of coaching as his father, Dave, was a Broyles Award Semi-finalist as well.

The Broyles Award “certainly means a great deal to my family to have been a part of, of what he was able to accomplish in his career as well.” Wommack said. “I want to thank, so many people but but certainly my family, to have my father, who was a semifinalist for this award. And to be able to share that with him is something that is truly a dream of mine and something that I am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to do that. And to have that connection, and that's something that we will always get to have and so it's it's truly and deeply appreciated.”

Any great coach is also a product of his players and Wommack did not forget to thank the player who helped execute his defense in 2020. Under his watch in 2020 a program-record seven defensive players earned All-Big Ten honors.

“I want to thank the players and coaches here at Indiana, the opportunity that these players have created for themselves with their hard work and their effort in such a difficult situation. And what we're going through right now is has been truly remarkable.” Wommack stated. “But I got to set the reward of being able to see these guys accomplish something great. And to watch them start as freshmen and then continue to grow and build, to the point of having seven all Big Ten players on defense, and to watch these coaches develop their players at such a high level has been a true truly rewarding experience so very thankful for the Broyles family and very thankful and humbled to be a finalist for the bronze award. Thank you so much.”

Wommack has already accepted the job of head coach at South Alabama for the 2021 season and beyond. He will still be coaching the Hoosiers defense through the Outback Bowl on January 2nd against Ole Miss.

The Broyles Award will be announced tomorrow at 12:45pm ET. Fans can watch live via Brolyesaward.com