Indiana Defensive Coordinator Wins Broyles Award

Bryant Haines honored as nation's top assistant coach

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines has been awarded the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant coach in college football. Haines was recognized for his work leading a defense that ranked second nationally in scoring and fourth in total defense, helping Indiana win the national championship.

Why it matters

The Broyles Award is one of the most prestigious honors for assistant coaches, recognizing their critical role in a team's success. Haines' award highlights Indiana's defensive prowess and the development of their coaching staff, which will be key to the team's continued competitiveness.

The details

Haines was selected from 64 nominees representing approximately 1,500 assistant coaches across the country. He was a finalist for the award last year as well. The other finalists this year were Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, and Texas Tech defensive coordinator Shiel Wood.

  • The award ceremony took place on Thursday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Bryant Haines

The defensive coordinator for the Indiana football team, who was honored with the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach.

Frank Broyles

The former Arkansas head coach for whom the Broyles Award is named, recognizing his history of developing successful assistant coaches.

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What’s next

The award will continue to be presented annually to recognize the contributions of top assistant coaches in college football.

The takeaway

Indiana's defensive success under coordinator Bryant Haines has been recognized with one of the most prestigious awards in college football, highlighting the program's strong coaching staff and their ability to develop elite defensive units.