Repeat Region Coach of the Year – Vanderbilt Commodores

Clark Lea earns AFCA award for second year in a row
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt E. Bronson Ingram Chair in Football Clark Lea was named the American Football Coaches Association Region 2 Coach of the Year the organization announced on Tuesday. It’s the second consecutive season that the Commodore head coach has received the award.
Lea is a semifinalist for the George Munger College Coach of the Year as well, and is also on watch lists for the Paul “Bear” Bryant and Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Awards.
This fall he has led the Commodores to nine regular-season victories for the first time since 1915 while guiding the program to a perfect record at home—Vandy finished 7-0 at FirstBank Stadium after defeating Kentucky 45-17 on Saturday—for the first time since the 1982 campaign. The Dores currently are 12th in both the Associated Press and AFCA Coaches polls while standing No. 14 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Under his direction, the Commodores have featured in the AP poll each of the last 11 weeks after never appearing in the organization’s rankings on more than four occasions in a single season prior to this year.
Lea led Vandy to its first appearance in the AP top 10 since 1947 and highest ranking since the 1937 season after the Commodores reached No. 9 in the poll following a victory over No. 15/14 Missouri on Oct. 25. The Dores’ three wins this fall over top-15 opponents equal the number of victories over nationally-ranked foes recorded by the program the previous 11 seasons combined.
His efforts have Vanderbilt on track to finish with its highest scoring average since 1915—the Commodores are currently ninth nationally posting 38.9 points per outing—as well as its best scoring margin since the 1948 season with the Dores currently sitting at plus-189 in the category.
Lea is now in consideration for the AFCA National Coach of the Year Award, which will be announced on Dec. 15.
Vandy concludes the regular season Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT when it visits No. 18/18 Tennessee in a contest that can be seen on ESPN.
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