O'Brien on yet another coach of the year finalists list
Penn State coach Bill O'Brien has been named one of three finalists for the Collegiate Coach of the Year award presented by the Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia.
If it's another day, it must mean more recognition for Penn State coach Bill O'Brien.
The Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia announced Wednesday that O'Brien had been named as one of three finalists for its Collegiate Coach of the Year award. O'Brien joins Notre Dame's Brian Kelly and Kansas State's Bill Snyder on that short list.
It is the third time in three days that O'Brien, who led the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record this past season, had been on a list of finalists for an award as the nation's top college coach.
On Monday it was the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year from the Football Writers Association of America. The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year committee included O'Brien on its list on Tuesday. O'Brien also is on the watch list for Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year.
O'Brien already has been named Big Ten coach of the year by conference coaches and media.
The Maxwell Club will announce the coach of the year winner on Dec. 19. He will be honored along with other awardees – including the Penn State football seniors, who captured the Thomas Brookshier Spirit Award – at a March 1 dinner at Harrah's in Atlantic City.
--Joe Juliano