Mid-American Conference football individual awards

The Mid-American Conference football awards are given annually by the Mid-American Conference (MAC) at the conclusion of each college football season. The conference gives out a total of five awards, the Offensive, Defensive, and Freshman Players of the Year, the Coach of the Year, and the Vern Smith Leadership Award, which is given to the league's MVP in that season. The Vern Smith Award is selected by a vote of the coaches in the MAC while the remaining awards are selected by the MAC News Media Association.[1]

Offensive Player of the Year
Byron Leftwich is one of the few multiple Offensive POTY award winners. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009.
Nate Davis led the Ball State Cardinals to an undefeated regular season in 2008, earning him the Offensive POTY award in that year.

Winners
SeasonPlayerTeamPosition
1965Willie AsburyKent State
1966Bruce MatteMiami
1967John SchneiderToledo
1968Cleve BryantOhio
1969Chuck EaleyToledoQB
1970Chuck Ealey (2)ToledoQB
1971*Chuck Ealey (3)ToledoQB
1971*Phil VillapianoBowling Green
1972Bob HitchensMiami
1973Paul MilesBowling Green
1974Gene SwickToledo
1975Gene Swick (2)Toledo
1976Jerome PersellWestern MichiganRB
1977Jerome Persell (2)Western MichiganRB
1978*Jerome Persell (3)Western MichiganRB
1978*Dave PetzkeNorthern Illinois
1979Gary HogeboomCentral MichiganQB
1980Mark O'ConnellBall State
1981Sam ShonOhio
1982Curtis AdamsCentral Michigan
1983Brian McClureBowling Green
1984Brian McClure (2)Bowling Green
1985Brian McClure (3)Bowling Green
1986Terry MorrisMiamiQB
1987Eric WilkersonKent State
1988Tony KimbroughWestern MichiganQB
1989David RileyBall State
1990Jeff BenderCentral Michigan
1991Erik WhiteBowling Green
1992Erik White (2)Bowling Green
1993Mike NeuBall State
1994Brian PruittCentral Michigan
1995Wasean TaitToledo
1996Kareem WilsonOhio
1997Randy MossMarshallWR
1998Travis PrenticeMiamiRB
1999Chad PenningtonMarshallQB
2000Robert SanfordWestern MichiganRB
2001Byron LeftwichMarshallQB
2002Byron Leftwich (2)MarshallQB
2003Ben RoethlisbergerMiamiQB
2004Omar JacobsBowling GreenQB
2005Greg JenningsWestern MichiganWR
2006Garrett WolfeNorthern IllinoisRB
2007Dan LeFevourCentral MichiganQB
2008Nate DavisBall StateQB
2009Dan LeFevour (2)Central MichiganQB
2010Chad SpannNorthern IllinoisRB
2011Chandler HarnishNorthern IllinoisQB
2012Jordan LynchNorthern IllinoisQB
2013Jordan Lynch (2)Northern IllinoisQB
2014Jarvion FranklinWestern MichiganRB
2015Matt JohnsonBowling GreenQB
2016Corey DavisWestern MichiganWR
2017 Logan Woodside Toledo QB
2018 Tyree Jackson Buffalo QB

Winners by school
School (First season)WinsYears
Bowling Green (1952)91971, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1991, 1992, 2004, 2015
Toledo (1952)81967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1995, 2017
Western Michigan (1948)81976, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2000, 2005, 2014, 2016
Central Michigan (1975)61979, 1982, 1990, 1994, 2007, 2009
Northern Illinois (1975)61978, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Miami (1948)51966, 1972, 1986, 1998, 2003
Ball State (1975)41980, 1989, 1993, 2008
Marshall[2] (1954)41997, 1999, 2001, 2002
Ohio (1947)31968, 1981, 1996
Kent State (1951)21965, 1987
Buffalo (1999)12018
Akron (1992)0
Eastern Michigan (1976)0
Temple[3] (2007)0
Butler[4] (1947)0
Cincinnati[4] (1947)0
Central Florida[5](2002)0
UMass[6] (2011)0

Defensive Player of the Year
Larry English won the Defensive POTY award in 2008. He also won the Vern Smith award in that same year.

Winners
Player (X)Denotes the number of times the player has won
Year*Co-Award Winners
Position Key
DEDefensive EndDTDefensive TackleLBLinebackerSSafety
SeasonPlayerSchoolPosition
1965Bob RoweWestern Michigan
1966Bob Rowe (2)Western Michigan
1967Tom BeutlerToledoDL
1968Bob BabichMiamiLB
1969Joe GreenBowling GreenDB
1970Dick AdamsMiamiDB
1971Mel LongToledo
1972Jack LambertKent StateLB
1973Brad CousinoMiamiLB
1974Brad Cousino (2)MiamiLB
1975Shafer SuggsBall StateDB
1976Aaron BivinsToledo
1977Jack GlowikMiami
1978Ken KremerBall State
1979Frank LewandowskiNorthern IllinoisLB
1980*Kent McCormickMiamiLB
1980*Mike TerraNorthern Illinois
1981John ZupancicMiami
1982Ray BentleyCentral MichiganLB
1983Brian PillmanMiamiDT
1984Mark BrandonToledoDB
1985John OfferdahlWestern MichiganLB
1986Mark GaralczykWestern MichiganDT
1987Greg GarnicaBall StateLB
1988Greg Garnica (2)Ball StateLB
1989Greg Garnica (3)Ball StateLB
1990Sean MulhearnWestern MichiganLB
1991Curt McMillanMiamiLB
1992Curt McMillan (2)MiamiLB
1993Vince PalkoBowling GreenLB
1994Vince Palko (2)Bowling GreenLB
1995Johhnie WilliamsMiamiDB
1996Brad MaynardBall StateP
1997JoJuan ArmourMiamiLB
1998JoJuan Armour (2)MiamiLB
1999Dustin CohenMiamiLB
2000Dwight SmithAkronDB
2001Max YatesMarshallLB
2002Jason BabinWestern MichiganDL
2003Jason Babin (2)Western MichiganDL
2004Johnathan GoddardMarshallDL
2005Dan BazuinCentral MichiganDL
2006Ameer IsmailWestern MichiganLB
2007Clayton MullinsMiamiLB
2008Larry EnglishNorthern IllinoisDE
2009Adrian RobinsonTempleDE
2010Roosevelt NixKent StateDL
2011Drew NowakWestern MichiganDT
2012Chris JonesBowling GreenDT
2013Khalil MackBuffaloLB
2014Quinten RollinsMiamiDB
2015Jatavis BrownAkronLB
2016Tarell BashamOhioDE
2017Sutton SmithNorthern IllinoisDE
2018Sutton Smith (2)Northern IllinoisDE

Winners by school
School (First season)WinsYears
Miami (1948)161968, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2007, 2014
Western Michigan (1948)91965, 1966, 1985, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011
Ball State (1975)61975, 1978, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1996
Northern Illinois (1975)51979, 1980, 2008, 2017, 2018
Bowling Green (1952)41969, 1993, 1994, 2012
Toledo (1952)41967, 1971, 1976, 1984
Akron (1992)22000, 2015
Kent State (1951)21972, 2010
Central Michigan (1975)21982, 2005
Marshall[2] (1954)22001, 2004
Buffalo (1999)12013
Ohio (1947)12016
Temple[3] (2007)12009
Eastern Michigan (1976)0
Butler[7] (1947)0
Cincinnati[4] (1947)0
Central Florida[5] (2002)0
UMass[6] (2011)0

Special Teams Player of the Year
Dave Zastudil is one of two two-time award winners. He shared the award with the other two-time winner, Steve Azar.
Justin McCareins, shown here playing for the Tennessee Titans, is one of three Northern Illinois players to win the award.
Scott Secor, 2014 Special Teams Player of the Year award winner.

Winners
Player (X)Denotes the number of times the player has been selected
Year*Co-award winners
Position key
KPlacekickerKRKick returnerPPunterPRPunt returner
SeasonPlayerSchoolPosition
1998Brad SelentWestern MichiganK
1999Dave ZastudilOhio
2000Justin McCareinsNorthern Illinois
2001*Dave Zastudil (2)Ohio
2001*Steve AzarNorthern Illinois
2002Dan SheldonNorthern Illinois
2003Steve Azar (2)Northern Illinois
2004Ryne RobinsonMiami
2005Jason RobbinsToledo
2006Brian JacksonBall State
2007Brett KernToledo
2008Antonio BrownCentral Michigan
2009Antonio Brown (2)Central Michigan
2010Eric PageToledo
2011Matt WellerOhioK
2012Dri ArcherKent StateKR
2013Jeremiah DetmerToledoK
2014Scott SecorBall StateK
2015Aregeros TurnerNorthern IllinoisKR
2016Darius PhillipsWestern MichiganKR
2017Darius Phillips (2)Western MichiganKR
2018Diontae JohnsonToledoKR

Winners by school
School (First season)WinsYears
Northern Illinois (1975)52000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2015
Toledo (1952)52005, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2018
Ohio (1947)31999, 2001, 2011
Western Michigan (1948)31998, 2016, 2017
Ball State (1975)22006, 2014
Central Michigan (1975)22008, 2009
Kent State (1951)12012
Miami (1948)12004
Akron (1992)0
Bowling Green (1952)0
Buffalo (1999)0
Eastern Michigan (1976)0
Temple[3] (2007)0
Butler[7] (1947)0
Cincinnati[4] (1947)0
Marshall[2] (1954)0
Central Florida[5] (2002)0
UMass[6] (2011)0

Freshman Player of the Year
Ben Roethlisberger won the Freshman award in 2001. Today, his number 7 is retired at Miami University and he has led the Pittsburgh Steelers to two Super Bowl victories.
Tim Hiller, the 2005 winner, was one of NFL.com's Top 5 senior quarterback prospects in 2009.

The Freshman Player of the Year award was first given by the MAC after the 1982 football season. That year's winner, Brian McClure, won a slew of MAC accords, including Offensive Player of the Year three times, and the Vern Smith award twice. Ball State, Central Michigan and Western Michigan are tied with the most awards, with players from each school winning five times.

Winners
Year*Co-Award Winners
Position Key
QBQuarterbackRBRunning BackTETight EndWRWide Receiver
DEDefensive EndDTDefensive TackleLBLinebackerSSafety
KPlacekickerKRKick ReturnerPPunterPRPunt Returner
SeasonPlayerSchoolPosition
1982Brian McClureBowling Green
1983Kelly SpielmakerWestern Michigan
1984Pete GenatempoNorthern Illinois
1985Marshall TaylorNorthern Illinois
1986Patrick YoungKent State
1987Bernie ParmaleeBall State
1988Jeff BenderCentral Michigan
1989Brad TaylesWestern MichiganQB
1990Troy ParkerToledo
1991Morrey NorrisKent State
1992Deland McCulloughMiami
1993Michael BlairBall State
1994Astron WhatleyKent State
1995Silas Massey IIICentral Michigan
1996*Walt ChurchEastern Michigan
1996*Tim LesterWestern MichiganQB
1997Robert SanfordWestern MichiganRB
1998Kurt GerlingBowling Green
1999Brandon PayneAkron
2000Talmadge HillBall State
2001Ben RoethlisbergerMiamiQB
2002Aaron LeeperBuffalo
2003Jerry SeymourCentral MichiganRB
2004Adell GivensBall State
2005Tim HillerWestern MichiganQB
2006Dan LeFevourCentral MichiganQB
2007Antonio BrownCentral Michigan
2008Sean BakerBall State
2009Bernard PierceTemple
2010Roosevelt NixKent StateDL
2011Anthon SamuelBowling GreenRB[8]
2012Jamie WilsonWestern MichiganWR
2013Corey DavisWestern MichiganWR
2014Jarvion FranklinWestern MichiganRB
2015Jamauri BoganWestern MichiganRB
2016Javon HaganOhioS
2017 Marcus Childers Northern Illinois QB
2018 Jaret Patterson Buffalo RB

Winners by school
School (First season)WinsYears
Western Michigan (1948)91983, 1989, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Ball State (1975)51987, 1993, 2000, 2004, 2008
Central Michigan (1975)51988, 1995, 2003, 2006, 2007
Kent State (1951)41986, 1991, 1994, 2010
Bowling Green (1952)31982, 1998, 2011
Miami (1948)21992, 2001
Northern Illinois (1975)21984, 1985, 2017
Buffalo (1999)22002, 2018
Akron (1992)11999
Eastern Michigan (1976)11996
Ohio (1947)12016
Temple[3] (2007)12009
Toledo (1952)11990
Butler[7] (1947)0
Cincinnati[4] (1947)0
Marshall[2] (1954)0
Central Florida[5] (2002)0
UMass[6] (2011)0

Vern Smith Leadership Award
Brad Maynard is the only special teams player to win the award.
Garrett Wolfe won the Vern Davis award in 2006 after setting many MAC rushing records.

The Vern Smith Leadership Award was started in 1982 by the Downtown Toledo Athletic Club. In that year, it was known as the Jefferson Award and the name was changed to honor the University of Toledo Athletic Director Vern Smith in 1987.[9] The award is given to the top football player in the Mid-American Conference. Only four players have won the award multiple times, with the most recent winner, Larry English, being the only non-quarterback to win it. Northern Illinois leads with seven awards all-time, followed by Bowling Green, Central Michigan and Marshall tied with four awards in each school. The Vern Smith award is the only one voted on by the coaches, with the Coach of the Year, as well as the Players of the Year are selected by the media.

Winners
Player (X)Denotes the number of times the player has been selected
Year*Co-Award Winners
Position Key
QBQuarterbackRBRunning BackTETight EndWRWide Receiver
DEDefensive EndDTDefensive TackleLBLinebackerSSafety
KPlacekickerKRKick ReturnerPPunterPRPunt Returner
SeasonPlayerSchoolPosition
1982Ray BentleyCentral MichiganLB
1983Tim TyrrellNorthern IllinoisQB
1984Brian McClureBowling GreenQB
1985Brian McClure (2)Bowling GreenQB
1986Terry MorrisMiamiQB
1987Eric WilkersonKent StateRB
1988Tony KimbroughWestern MichiganQB
1989David RileyBall StateQB
1990Jeff BenderCentral MichiganQB
1991Erik WhiteBowling GreenQB
1992Erik White (2)Bowling GreenQB
1993Mike NeuBall StateQB
1994Brian PruittCentral MichiganRB
1995Wasean TaitToledoRB
1996Brad MaynardBall StateP
1997Randy MossMarshallWR
1998Travis PrenticeMiamiRB
1999Chad PenningtonMarshallQB
2000Robert SanfordWestern MichiganRB
2001Byron LeftwichMarshallQB
2002Byron Leftwich (2)MarshallQB
2003Ben RoethlisbergerMiamiQB
2004Charlie FryeAkronQB
2005*Bruce GradkowskiToledoQB
2005*Greg JenningsWestern MichiganWR
2006Garrett WolfeNorthern IllinoisRB
2007Larry EnglishNorthern IllinoisDE
2008Larry English (2)Northern IllinoisDE
2009Dan LeFevourCentral MichiganQB
2010Chad SpannNorthern IllinoisRB
2011Chandler HarnishNorthern IllinoisQB
2012Jordan LynchNorthern IllinoisQB
2013Jordan Lynch (2)Northern IllinoisQB
2014Greg ManczToledoOL
2015Matt JohnsonBowling GreenQB
2016Zach TerrellWestern MichiganQB
2017Logan WoodsideToledoQB
2018Sutton SmithNorthern IllinoisDE

Winners by school
School (First season)WinsYears
Northern Illinois (1975)91983, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018
Bowling Green (1952)51984, 1985, 1991, 1992, 2015
Toledo (1952)41995, 2005, 2014, 2017
Central Michigan (1975)41982, 1990, 1994, 2009
Marshall (1954)41997, 1999, 2001, 2002
Western Michigan (1948)41988, 2000, 2005, 2016
Ball State (1975)31989, 1993, 1996
Miami (1948)31986, 1998, 2003
Akron (1992)12004
Kent State (1951)11987
Buffalo (1999)0
Eastern Michigan (1976)0
Ohio (1947)0
Temple (2007)0
Butler (1947)0
Cincinnati(1947)0
Central Florida (2002)0
UMass (2011)0

Coach of the Year
Urban Meyer won the award in 2001 with Bowling Green, before coaching at Utah, Florida and Ohio State.

The MAC has awarded a Coach of the Year award every year since 1965. The first award went to Bo Schembechler of Miami University. Only one coach has won the award more than twice, with Frank Lauterbur winning the award in 1967, 1969, and 1970.[10] Only two coaches have won the award beyond their tenth year of coaching. Bill Hess won the award in 1968 in his 11th year of coaching the Ohio Bobcats and Herb Deromedi won the award in 1990, his 13th year of coaching Central Michigan.[11] Also, only one coach, Bill Mallory, has won the award coaching two separate teams. He first earned the award in 1973 while coaching Miami University, and then won ten years later giving Northern Illinois their first Coach of the Year award. Toledo leads all schools with nine awards. Temple won their first award in 2009 when head coach Al Golden won his first MAC Coach of the Year award.[1]

Winners
Coach (X) Denotes the number of times the coach has been selected
SeasonCoachSchoolYear with schoolRecord
1965Bo SchembechlerMiami3rd7–3 (5–1)
1966Bill DoolittleWestern Michigan3rd7–3 (5–1)
1967Frank LauterburToledo5th9–1 (5–1)
1968Bill HessOhio11th10–1 (6–0)
1969Frank Lauterbur (2)Toledo7th11–0 (5–0)
1970Frank Lauterbur (3)Toledo8th12–0 (5–0)
1971John MurphyToledo1st12–0 (5–0)
1972Don JamesKent State1st6–5 (4–1)
1973Bill MalloryMiami5th11–0 (5–0)
1974Dick CrumMiami1st10–0–1 (5–0)
1975Dave McClainBall State1st9–2 (4–2)
1976Elliot UzelacWestern Michigan2nd7–4 (6–3)
1977Ed ChlebekEastern Michigan2nd8–3 (4–3)
1978Dwight WallaceBall State1st10–1 (8–0)
1979Chuck StobartToledo3rd7–3–1 (7–1–1)
1980Herb DeromediCentral Michigan3rd9–2 (7–2)
1981Chuck Stobart (2)Toledo5th9–3 (8–1)
1982Denny StolzBowling Green6th7–5 (7–2)
1983Bill Mallory (2)Northern Illinois3rd10–2 (8–1)
1984Dan SimrellToledo3rd9–2–1 (7–1–1)
1985Denny Stolz (2)Bowling Green9th11–1 (9–0)
1986Glen MasonKent State1st5–6 (5–3)
1987Jim HarkemaEastern Michigan5th10–2 (7–1)
1988Al MoldeWestern Michigan2nd9–3 (7–1)
1989Paul SchudelBall State5th7–3–2 (6–1–1)
1990Herb Deromedi (2)Central Michigan13th8–3–1 (7–1)
1991Gary BlackneyBowling Green1st11–1 (8–0)
1992Gary Blackney (2)Bowling Green2nd10–2 (8–0)
1993Paul Schudel (2)Ball State9th8–3–1 (7–0–1)
1994Dick FlynnCentral Michigan1st9–3 (8–1)
1995Gary PinkelToledo5th11–0–1 (7–0–1)
1996Jim GrobeOhio2nd6–6 (5–3)
1997Gary Pinkel (2)Toledo7th9–3 (7–1)
1998Bob PruettMarshall2nd12–1 (7–1)
1999Bob Pruett (2)Marshall3rd13–0 (8–0)
2000Gary DarnellWestern Michigan4th9–3 (7–1)
2001Urban MeyerBowling Green1st8–3 (5–3)
2002Joe NovakNorthern Illinois6th8–4 (7–1)
2003Terry HoeppnerMiami5th13–1 (8–0)
2004J. D. BrookhartAkron1st6–5 (6–2)
2005Bill CubitWestern Michigan1st7–4 (5–3)
2006Frank SolichOhio2nd9–5 (7–1)
2007Turner GillBuffalo2nd5–7 (5–3)
2008Brady HokeBall State6th12–2 (8–0)
2009Al GoldenTemple3rd9–3 (7–1)
2010Michael HaywoodMiami2nd9–4 (8–1)
2011Ron EnglishEastern Michigan3rd6–6 (4–4)
2012Darrell HazellKent State2nd11–3 (8–0)
2013Rod CareyNorthern Illinois1st12–1 (8–0)
2014P. J. FleckWestern Michigan2nd8–5 (6–2)
2015Matt CampbellToledo5th9–2 (6–2)
2016P. J. Fleck (2)Western Michigan4th13–1 (8–0)
2017Jason CandleToledo2nd11–3 (7–1)
2018Lance LeipoldBuffalo4th10–4 (7–1)

Winners by school
School (First season)WinsYears
Toledo (1952)101967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1979, 1871, 1984, 1995, 1997, 2015, 2017
Western Michigan (1948)71966, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2005, 2014, 2016
Miami (1948)51965, 1973, 1974, 2003, 2010
Ball State (1975)51975, 1978, 1989, 1993, 2008
Bowling Green (1952)51982, 1985, 1991, 1991, 2001
Central Michigan (1975)51980, 1990, 1994, 1977, 1987
Eastern Michigan (1976)31977, 1987, 2011
Northern Illinois (1975)31983, 2002, 2013
Kent State (1951)31972, 1986, 2012
Ohio (1947)31968, 1996, 2006
Buffalo (1999)22007, 2018
Marshall (1954)21988, 1999
Akron (1992)12004
Temple (2007)12009
Butler (1947)0
Cincinnati (1947)0
Central Florida (2002)0
UMass (2011)0

References
  1. "MAC Announces 2009 Post Season Awards" (Press release). Mid-American Conference. 2009-12-02. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  2. Marshall was a member of the MAC from 1953 to 1969 and again from 1997 to 2004. They left the conference following the 2004 season to become a member of Conference USA.
  3. Temple was a member of the MAC from 2007 to 2011, when they left to become a football-only member of the original Big East Conference, with plans to become full members of that conference in 2013. By the time Temple became an all-sports member, the original Big East had split along football lines, with the non-FBS schools reorganizing as a new, non-football Big East and the remaining FBS schools, including Temple, operating as the American Athletic Conference.
  4. Cincinnati left the Mid-American Conference following the 1953 season and is currently a member of The American.
  5. Central Florida was only a member of the MAC from 2002 to 2005, when they left to become a member of Conference USA, along with Marshall. UCF has been a member of The American since 2013.
  6. UMass was a member of the MAC from 2011 to 2015, when they left to become a football-only independent member of FBS Football, after declining to be a full member of the MAC
  7. Butler was only a MAC member from 1944 to 1950. They currently play football in the Football Championship Subdivision of NCAA Division I, playing in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League.
  8. "MAC Names 2011 All-MAC Teams & Post Season Awards". Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  9. "Vern Smith Leadership Award" (PDF). 2009 MAC Football Record Book. Mid-American Conference. 2009-07-21. p. 104. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  10. "MAC Coaches of the Year" (PDF). 2009 MAC Football Record Book. Mid-American Conference. 2009-07-21. p. 101. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  11. "All-Time MAC Coaching Records" (PDF). 2009 MAC Football Record Book. Mid-American Conference. 2009-07-21. pp. 100–101. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
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