Penn State Football: O’Brien Adds Another Coach of Year Award to Collection

Bill O’Brien has had plenty of praise thrown his way following the Nittany Lions’ 2012-13 season. Now the second year head coach has one more award to his name. O’Brien was named the Big Ten Men’s Coach of the Year Award during the BTN Awards on Wednesday night.

Prior to Wednesday’s award O’Brien had been named Bear Bryant Coach of the Year, as well as the Maxwell Football Club and ESPN Coach of the Year. He also was a finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year and the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year by the Football Writers Association of America.

O’Brien was also named the Big Ten’s Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media) and Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year (coaches). O’Brien is only the seventh first-year head coach to earn the Big Ten-Dave McClain Coach of the Year in the 41 years it has been awarded.

On Wednesday night, O’Brien was up against fellow Nittany Lion wrestling coach Cael Sanderson, Michigan basketball’s John Beilein, Indiana soccer’s Todd Yeagley and Indiana baseball’s Tracy Smith. O’Brien’s victory marks the third straight year a Penn State coach as taken home the award. Sanderson was the back-to-back recipient of the award coming off of consecutive team national titles.

This past season Penn State was particularly effective on offense despite an 0-2 start. The Nittany Lions finished the season at 8-4 gaining more than 500 yards of total offense three times in conference play. Penn State’s 546 yards vs. Indiana, is the highest offensive output against a Big Ten foe since 2008.

O’Brien is also largely credited with the transformation of former walk-on quarterback Matt McGloin. McGloin broke multiple school records during his senior season and is currently in the mix to make the Oakland Raiders’ roster despite stiff competition from a handful of veteran players.