Bowling Green State University Athletics
Meyer Named MAC Coach of the Year
November 29, 2001 | Football
Nov. 29, 2001
Toledo, Ohio - Bowling Green State University football coach Urban Meyer, who led the Falcons to the nation's top turnaround in NCAA IA football, has been named MAC Coach of the Year by the MAC News Media Association. Meyer received 25 of the 58 votes cast and finished ahead of Kent State's Dean Pees (17), Marshall's Bob Pruett (5), Miami's Terry Hoeppner (5), Ball State's Bill Lynch (4), Toledo's Tom Amstutz (1), and Northern Illinois' Joe Novak (1).
Meyer, who came to BGSU after serving as an assistant at Notre Dame, guided the Falcons to an 8-3 record and a second place finish in the MAC East Division with a 4-2 record. The Falcons also became the first team in MAC regular season history to post three wins over BCS conference schools when his squad defeated Missouri (Big 12), Northwestern (Big Ten), and Temple (Big East). The Falcons six-game improvement is tied for the best turnaround in the country with Colorado.
In addition, the Falcons finished among the top five teams in the country in rushing defense and turnover margin.
Meyer is the third BGSU coach to win the honor. Denny Stolz won the award in 1982 and 1985 and Gary Blackney was honored in 1991 and 1992.
