Miami football HC Mark Richt named to Dodd Coaches Trophy Watch list

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Mark Richt of the Miami Hurricanes looks on during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Hard Rock Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Head coach Mark Richt of the Miami Hurricanes looks on during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Hard Rock Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Miami Football Head Coach Mark Richt has been named one of 20 Coaches to the Watch List for the Dodd Trophy. The Trophy recognizes College Football Head Coaches who stress “importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity.” according to the Trophy’s website.

Richt is one of only three ACC Coaches who was named to the watch list. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Virginia Tech’s Justin Fuente are the other two. Fuente is the only coach on the watch list that the Miami football team will play against this season.

The list is most of the coaches you would expect in College Football. They include Alabama’s Nick Saban and Ohio State’s Urban Meyer.

Richt led Miami to their best season in 14 years in 2017. The Hurricanes won their first ACC Coastal Division Championship and made their first appearance in the ACC title game that went with the division title. Miami also won ten games for the first time since 2003 and their appearance in the Orange Bowl was their first since ’03.

In Richt’s first two seasons, the Hurricanes have gone 19-7. Fifteen Miami players have been selected in the NFL Draft following Richt’s first two years coaching Miami. A handful of others have made NFL rosters as undrafted free agents.

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  • Richt has shown great leadership in his brief stint as the Hurricanes Head Coach. He has spearheaded the fundraising effort to get the Carol Soffer Indoor Practice Facility built. It is scheduled to open next month.

    Under Richt, the Miami football team has also excelled off the field. Miami finished first this year among Division I schools in community service. That was after Miami, Northwestern and Stanford were the only schools in 2016 to earn the 2016 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Academic Achievement Award.

    Richt enters the 2018 season with his team positioned to be in the discussion for many awards and recognition.

    Miami is ranked in the consensus top 10 nationally for the upcoming season. They are also favored to repeat as the ACC Coastal Division Champions.

    ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Miami better than a 60 percent chance to win in all but one game this season. The Hurricanes have a 54.1 percent chance for victory at Virginia Tech in November.

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    Richt is attempting to become the first Miami Head Coach to win the Dodd Trophy. Swinney won the Award in 2011, Saban in 2014. Stanford’s David Shaw was last year’s winner.  Shaw is also on the 2018 preseason watchlist for the Dodd Trophy.

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