ACC History: ACC Coach of the Year Winners

ACC Coach of the Year

1.  Clemson - 8

1.  Virginia - 8

1.  Wake Forest - 8

4.  Maryland - 7

5.  Duke - 6

5.  NC State - 6

7.  Georgia Tech - 5

8.  UNC - 4

9.  FSU - 2

10.  Virginia Tech - 2

Earle Edwards brought home 4 out of the 6 Coach of the Year awards.  In 1957 Edwards led the Pack to a 7-1-2 record (5-0-1 Conference Record).  The Pack finished a half-game ahead of Duke, claiming their first ACC Championship.  With that being said, the Pack was held out of post season play due to NCAA infractions related to the basketball program.  The Pack finished the season ranked #15 in the AP Poll.

Edwards won the award again in 1963 when he led the Pack to a share of the ACC Title with cross-town rival UNC.  For the first time in ACC history the ACC sent two schools (NC State and UNC) to bowl games.  This was the first time the Pack had been to a bowl in 17 years.  The Pack lost in the Liberty Bowl to Mississippi St. 12-16.  State finished the season with an 8-3 record (6-1 Conference Record).

 

Two Years later Edwards took it home again in '65.  This turned out to be a crazy year for the whole ACC.  South Carolina who finished the season as Co-Champions along with Duke, had to forfeit all of their wins, including a win over the Pack and Clemson.  As a result, NC State, Clemson and Duke all shared the title with 5-2 Conference Records.  The Pack finished the season 6-4.  

In 1967 Edwards claimed his 4th and final ACC Coach of the Year award.  He led the Pack to a 9-2 record (5-1 Conference Record) and took them back to the Liberty Bowl where they tasted victory, defeating Georgia 14-7.

 1972 the Pack had a new Sheriff in town, and his name was Lou Holtz. In 1971 the Pack had finished 6th in the ACC.  1972 just so happened to be Holtz's first season and not only did he lead the Pack to a 2nd Place finish in the ACC, he also brought home the Coach of the Year award.  State finished with a 8-3 record (4-1-1 Conference Record) and was ranked #17 in the final AP Poll.  The Pack went on to crush West Virginia 49-13 in the Peach Bowl.

Fourteen years passed before another Pack coach would claim the prestigious award.  In 1986, in his first year at the helm, Dick Sheridan's efforts earned him the honor.  After going 3-8 for three straight years, Coach Sheridan was able to inverse that record and lead the Pack to a 8-3-1 record (5-2 Conference Record).  Despite all of the heroics, the Pack fell short 24-25 against Virginia Tech in the Peach Bowl.  

The the Pack has been blessed with some great coaches in its past, and it looks like the Pack has found another one to add to the list.  While we don't want to get to far ahead of ourselves, we would definitely be shocked if Coach O'Brien didn't add #7 to the record books.