The George Munger Award, which is given to the college football coach of the year, has recognized Nick Saban, the head coach of Alabama football, as a finalist. On Wednesday, the Maxwell Football Club declared the five finalists.
In addition to Saban, the other finalists included Steve Sarkisian of Texas, Mike Norvell of Florida State, David Braun of Northwestern, and Steve Smith of Washington. In Monday’s Sugar Bowl quarterfinal of the College Football Playoffs, Sarkisian and DeBour squared off. The Huskies prevailed, securing a ticket to the national championship game.
Kalen DeBour 
After being undefeated in the regular season and the ACC title game, Norvell’s Florida State team controversially finished behind Alabama in the final CFP rankings. Georgia easily defeated the Seminoles in the Orange Bowl following major roster opt-outs.
Braun assumed temporary leadership following the scandal-plagued dismissal of former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Braun will return to lead the Wildcats in their inaugural season after they finished 8-5 and defeated Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Early in the season, Saban’s Alabama squad gave off a bad impression. The Crimson Tide started the season slowly before picking up steam in wins over South Florida and Texas in Weeks two and three, respectively.
In its final season, Alabama won the West division of the conference after being undefeated in SEC play. The SEC championship game saw the Crimson Tide defeat Georgia.
Alabama lost to Michigan in overtime on Monday in the Rose Bowl semifinal after qualifying for the playoffs as the fourth-seeded team. Nevertheless, Saban declared that the team was among his best in Alabama.
“As a coach, you’re always trying to get your team to be the best that they can be, and I think this team has probably improved more than any other team I’ve ever coached from the early-season games against South Florida and Texas,” Saban said following the victory.
On January 10, the award winner will be revealed. Along with Gene Stallings (1992), Saban (2016) was the other Alabama winner of the award.
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