Arizona State defensive coordinator Brian Ward and Arizona defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales were named nominees for the 2025 Broyles Award, which recognizes the top assistant college football coach in FBS.
Ward and Gonzales joined 61 other assistants as nominees and a first round of voting through Sunday will determine semifinalists for the honor.
For the first time in the award’s 30-year history, fans can cast a vote once every 24 hours and the coach that receives the most votes during each of the three rounds with be given one collective vote by the award selection committee.
RELATED STORIES
Kenny Dillingham praises ASU seniors for roles in changing team culture following loss vs. Arizona
The remaining two rounds of fan voting will be from Tuesday to Dec. 7 and Jan. 20-26.
Other Big 12 assistant coaches up for the annual award are BYU OC Aaron Roderick, Cincinnati offensive line coach Nic Cardwell, Baylor OC Jake Spavital and Houston DC Austin Armstrong.
The Broyles Award winner will be announced during a ceremony on Feb. 12-13, 2026 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Sun Devils offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo was a finalist for the 2024 Broyles Award.
2025 resumes of Ward, Gonzales up for top assistant award
Ward, a past nominee for the Broyles Award in 2017 while linebackers coach at Syracuse, led the Sun Devils defense to the second-most sacks (32) in the Big 12 regular reason behind Texas Tech’s 37.
While ASU struggled to 13th in the conference for pass defense, Ward had it excelling against the rushing attack to the tune of the second-least yards per game (116.7) and yards per carry (3.4).
Ward commandeered several key defensive stands in the program’s eight wins through the Territorial Cup, with single-digit victories over No. 5 Texas Tech and then-No.24 TCU coming on late sacks and pass breakups when they were needed most.
In his second season in Tucson and first as DC after leaving New Mexico, Gonzales orchestrated the Big 12’s best passing defense with 19 interceptions and nine for touchdowns. The Wildcats, led by senior DB Treydan Stukes and junior Genesis Smith, only allowed 155.9 passing yards per game in the regular season, which was nearly 22 yards fewer than the next closest (Utah, 177.5).
Gonzales had the rushing attack in the middle of conference rankings in terms of touchdowns allowed (18) and yards per game (145.7) but Arizona got two forced fumbles when they mattered most and only conceded 100 yards on 27 carries in a 23-7 win over ASU on Saturday.
The Wildcats defense also elevated its game in back-to-back one-score wins against Kansas and then-No. 25 Cincinnati to keep slim Big 12 Championship hopes alive.
Arizona more than doubled its win total (nine) from last season (four) with a bowl game still to play.
Follow @pwmoses11
Hence then, the article about asu s brian ward arizona s danny gonzales nominated for top assistant award was published today ( ) and is available on Arizona sports ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ASU’s Brian Ward, Arizona’s Danny Gonzales nominated for top assistant award )
Also on site :
- Marlins land former Rays closer Pete Fairbanks for $13 million in intriguing hot stove move
- UNC Bears Quinn Denker named to men’s basketball point guard watch list
- Merrimack vs Mount St. Mary’s Women’s College Basketball Odds and Prediction – Dec. 29