The finalists for the Broyles award, given to the nation’s top college football assistant coach, were announced on Tuesday, and USC football offensive line coach Zach Hanson was not among them.
In fact, Hanson wasn’t even one of the initial nominees. USC’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Luke Huard was one of the 63 nominees, but he is not a finalist either. Mike Bobo of Georgia, Bryant Haines of Indiana, Corey Hetherman of Miami, Matt Patricia of Ohio State and Shiel Wood of Texas Tech are the five finalists.
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Some USC fans and insiders, such as USC insider Mark Kulkin, are puzzled as to why Zach Hanson wasn’t nominated.
USC’s offensive line was excellent all season long and dramatically improved from 2024, a testament to Hanson’s elite coaching in his first year as offensive line coach.
I, too, am upset that Hanson isn’t getting more national respect. But I have a pretty good idea of why he isn’t. Let’s dive in:
Zach Hanson is not a coordinator
Every coach that won the Broyles award in the award’s history had the title of “coordinator”. Most of them were offensive or defensive coordinators. Only Joe Brady in 2019 (Passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach) and Tony Elliot (co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach) were not their teams sole offensive or defensive coordinator.
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That’s likely why Huard was nominated. Huard did a great job as USC’s quarterbacks coach helping to develop Jayden Maiava, don’t get me wrong. But his “offensive coordinator” title doesn’t mean much. USC head coach Lincoln Riley calls the plays on game day. Riley is pretty hands on with the QBs himself as well.
Huard may have gotten a boost from his title from people who don’t know how USC’s coaching staff divides its responsibilities.
Hanson coaches the least flashy position
Also, Hanson coaches offensive linemen. Offensive linemen are the least noticed, least appreciated players on the field. They don’t accumulate any stats that the common man pays attention to. They are often only noticed when they screw up, drawing a penalty or allowing a sack.
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As a result, you’d only notice Hanson’s effect if you really paid attention to every player on the field for USC this season. And the only people who really do that are USC fans.
Hanson’s Trojans are not in the College Football Playoff
Every Broyles Award finalist this season coaches a team that is in the College Football Playoff. Maybe if USC was in the playoff, the national media would have paid more attention to how the Trojans improved so much. And they would then notice that the offensive line has been at the heart of that.
Plus, team success always affects awards. If you’re a good coach you likely help your team win. Success is less noticed on teams that achieve less and not noticed on teams that don’t achieve anything.
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Hanson can’t throw himself behind a top NFL draft talent
Maybe if Elijah Paige or one of USC’s other star offensive linemen was graduating and set to be a top 10 pick in the NFL draft, Hanson’s name would become more famous by association.
But all of USC’s best offensive linemen from this past season are set to return in 2026. So, their names aren’t coming up in draft conversations yet.
The prevailing narrative about USC in the trenches
All season long, USC fans had to endure chatter from other teams about how the Trojans were soft in the trenches and couldn’t compete with more physical Big Ten teams. On the defensive side of the ball, that was sometimes true. But on offense, USC competed with everybody — running and throwing the football. The Trojans even beat two teams that have a reputation for being among the most physical in the conference, Michigan and Iowa.
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I don’t think this narrative has been entirely put to rest though. Until USC is dominant in the trenches on both sides of the ball, people are going to continue to doubt Lincoln Riley’s ability to lead a physical team.
Zach Hanson staying a secret is not the end of the world
But let me offer another perspective: it’s not the end of the world if Zach Hanson stays a secret. It would actually be great for the Trojans if other teams continue to underestimate Hanson’s abilities and the Trojans’ offensive line. It would also be great to be able to keep Hanson with relative ease, without other teams trying to sign him to a bigger contract and poach him away.
Everyone at USC and in the Trojan fanbase knows and appreciates what Hanson has done. That can suffice — both for Hanson and for us.
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So Zach Hanson, on the off chance that you’re reading this, we really appreciate you. We think you’re one of the best assistant coaches in the country. But we’re also glad you’re our secret. Please stay at USC for a long time!
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC’s Zach Hanson not Broyles Award finalist despite elite coaching
