Miami Hurricanes OC Josh Gattis surprised with Broyles Award

Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Josh Gattis was surprised during his meeting with reporters on Thursday with the Broyles Award emblematic of the best assistant coach in college football. Gattis was in the middle of discussing the transition to the new systems throughout the team when he was surprised.

Broyles Award Chairman Jeff Hildebrand arrived at Miami Hurricanes practice with the Broyles Award trophy to present to Gattis. Gattis received the Broyles Award for turning around the Michigan offense last season. Michigan was 16th nationally averaging 35.8 points per game during the 2021 season.

The Wolverines were 25th averaging 443.1 yards per game. That was up from 78th and 381.8 yards per game in 2020. Michigan averaged 28.3 PPG in 2020 which was 66th. Hiring Gattis during the offseason away from Michigan was big for Mario Cristobal. Gattis did not feel appreciated at Michigan.

The appearance by Hildebrand interrupted about two minutes of the meeting that Gattis had with reporters on Wednesday. After the surprise and photo ops, Gattis jokingly asked if he needed to finish the meeting with reporters. Gattis was initially surprised and then Hildebrand explained the Broyles Award and its history.

"“Oh bro yes good thing this hey we don’t mean to interrupt you okay”“So we’re here on behalf of the Broyles Award. The Broyles Award was created 27 years ago by David Bazzel and it was to honor assistant coaches a lot of coach Broyles’ former players and former assistants have gone on to great things. Y’all may know one, Jimmy Johnson, won a championship here at Miami.Won two Super Bowls. Well coach josh Gattis, this is our 26th-year winner in 2021 and we wanted to come down today and present him with his trophy and tell University of Miami players fans, etc not only do you have a great coach you’ve got a great person a great role model for the players and for the students and for the community. “"

After the explanation from Hildebrand Gattis gave an impromptu acceptance speech. Gattis began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at North Carolina in 2010. The connection between Cristobal and Gattis is that they both were assistants at Alabama under Nick Saban. Gattis thanked the Broyles committee.

"“Thank you guys…that’s awesome. It’s quite the surprise right to end that is and it’s uh to say this is truly an honor um I really hope in the highest regard and obviously as an assistant coach, this is always a dream for any coach to be honored with the Broyles Award and thank you to the Broyles’ family the foundation.Everyone from my trip to Arkansas to Little Rock it was amazing and I couldn’t be more honored to represent you all and I will hold that in the highest regard every day as a coach it put a new challenge and a new responsibility on me and I embrace it and I look forward to it thank you so much.”"

Following the impromptu presentation, Gattis spoke about the chemistry the Miami Hurricanes staff has and the ability for him to learn every day from co-defensive coordinators Kevin Steele and Charlie Strong plus Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor. Gattis is still relatively early in his career and evolving.

Cristobal has been credited nationally with hiring an elite staff. Gattis is regarded as one of the best young assistant coaches in college football. The Miami offense will look different under Gattis than previous offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Gattis should remain one of the best assistant coaches in college football.