Per GoBearcats:
University of Cincinnati football offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Mike Denbrock is one of 15 semifinalists for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Denbrock has guided the American Athletic Conference’s most prolific offense in 2021. The Bearcats rank first in the AAC and eighth nationally in scoring (40.0) and pace the league and rank No. 11 overall in yards per play (6.80).
Cincinnati has jumped out to an 11-0 record and has earned its highest rankings in school history, slotting as high as No. 4 in the College Football Playoff Rankings and No. 2 in the Associated Press and Coaches Polls this season.
Denbrock has been instrumental in the development of quarterback Desmond Ridder, who is the nation’s winningest signal-caller and has led an offense that is among the nation’s best despite losing two all-conference offensive lineman and a first-team All-AAC running back from the 2020 team that won the AAC.
A veteran of 30-plus years in the coaching profession, Denbrock has worked as both an offensive and defensive coordinator and coached every position on the offensive side of the ball. Over the last four years, Cincinnati has averaged more than 30 points per game and advanced to the 2020 Peach Bowl after an undefeated regular season last fall. UC also won 11 games in both 2018 and 2019. More than 10 of his former UC offensive players have spent time on NFL rosters.
In 2021, Cincinnati ranks No. 3 in the country in TFLs allowed (37), No. 5 in touchdowns (60), No. 11 in yards per rush (5.34) and No. 12 in passing efficiency (161.23).
The No. 4-ranked Bearcats are 42-6 over the last four years – all with Denbrock as the offensive coordinator and play caller.
This 15 semifinalists will be narrowed to five finalists next week, each of whom will be invited to Little Rock, Ark. for the two-day Broyles Award ceremony. The winner will be announced on Dec. 7.
