Indiana’s amazing 2025 national championship season has brought all sorts of honors and trophies. That haul continued on Thursday night when Hoosiers defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Bryant Haines won the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach.
It is the third straight season that Haines has been in contention for the award, as he was a semifinalist in 2023 before earning finalist honors in 2024. Haines is just the second Hoosier to earn finalist honors along with defensive coordinator Kane Wommack in 2020 and is just the seventh Big Ten assistant to win the award in its 30-year history.
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Haines is the first Broyles Award winner to also claim the national title since offensive coordinator Joe Brady of LSU in 2019 and is the 10th assistant coach to claim a national title in the same season.
Haines’ Indiana defense ranked among the top-10 nationally in several categories:
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rushing defense (No. 2; 77.2 ypg),
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scoring defense (No. 2; 11.7 ppg),
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turnovers gained (No. 3; 30),
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tackles for loss per game (No. 3; 8.1),
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total defense (No. 4; 266.0 ypg),
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interceptions (No. 6; 19)
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third down conversion percentage (No. 8; .301).
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Indiana didn’t allow more than 24 points in a game in 2025 and limited nine of 16 opponents to 10 points or fewer.
The Hoosiers led the nation in points off of turnovers (134) and were the only FBS school with four players to log at least 11.0 tackles for loss on the season. His unit set the program standard with 46.0 sacks and held the opposition under 100-yards rushing in 13 of 16 games. The defense forced a turnover in 14 of 16 games and finished the season with at least one turnover forced in nine straight games.
Along with the statistical accolades, linebacker Aiden Fisher and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds each earned first-team All-America honors. Defensive lineman Stephen Daley, defensive back Louis Moore and defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker each earned All-America honors from various outlets, as well. A program-record seven defensive players earned All-Big Ten honors, as well, with four first-team honorees.
