University of Connecticut Athletics
Gordon Sammis A Nominee for 2025 Broyles Award
11/28/2025 11:26:00 AM | Football
STORRS, CT - For the second-straight season, UConn offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis has been named a candidate for the prestigious Broyles Award, given annually to college football's top assistant coach. The Frank and Barbara Broyles Foundation announced 63 candidates for the 2025 Broyles Award from approximately 1,500 assistant coaches representing 131 FBS programs across the country.
Since its founding, the Broyles Award has honored 29 winners and more than 100 finalists, including some of the biggest names in college football coaching history such as Steve Sarkisian, Lane Kiffin, Kirby Smart, Lincoln Riley, Dan Lanning, and Gus Malzahn. The Broyles Award winner will be announced live at the 30th Annual Broyles Award Ceremony on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Sammis, in his fourth season at UConn and in his second as the Huskies offensive coordinator, has guided an offensive unit in 2025 that is ranked 15th in scoring offense (36.9), 6th in passing (301.1), 14th in first downs (263), and first in turnovers lost (2). For the first time in school history, the Huskies have a 3,000 yard passer (Joe Fagnano), a 1,000 yard rusher (Cam Edwards) and a 1,000 yard receiver (Skyler Bell) in the same season. Only two teams in college football have a 3k passer/1k rusher/1k receiver this season through Week 13; UConn and North Texas.
This season, the UConn offense set new school records for passing yards (3,613), and passing completions (297) and is second in total offense 5,521), just 209 yards away from the record with a bowl game to play. The 443 points scored is second all-time, just 18 points from school record. Team finished 9-3 and is bowl eligible for second-straight season and third time in four years.
Quarterback Joe Fagnano is a Heisman candidate and a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award while wide receiver Skyler Bell is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award. Fagnano was a four-time Manning Award Star of the Week and a two-time New England Gold Helmet award winner. He started all 12 games and is 285-for-413 for 3,448 yards with 28 TD, 1 INT, and a 161.03 passing efficiency rating. Fagnano ranks third in the NCAA in passing yards and passing TDs, seventh in completions per game and passing yards per game and eighth in points responsible for (188). Bell set new UConn school records for catches (101) and TDs (13) and is 76 yards away from the receiving yards record with 1,278 this season. His seven 100-yard games ties the school FBS record. He ranks first in the nation in catches, yards and touchdowns and 100 yard games. He is second in receptions per game and receiving yards per game. Running back Cam Edwards became the first Husky to hit 1,000 yards since 2018 and is ranked fifth in the NCAA in rushing TDs with 14 and seventh in total TDs with 15. His 1,132 rushing yards is eighth nationally.
The Selection Process
The Broyles Award selection committee is made of former hall of fame coaches, members of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), and legendary broadcasters. The selection committee will vote to advance 15 semifinalists, five finalists, and one overall winner.
New for 2025
For the first time in the 30 year history of the Broyles Award, fans across America will have a direct voice in deciding which assistant coaches advance to the semifinalist round, finalist round, and ultimately who wins the award.
The Broyles Award Fan Vote launches today, Tuesday, November 25th at noon CST. Fans can cast votes for their favorite nominees throughout each stage of the competition. Each individual fan vote counts toward one collective "fan vote" in the official selection process of each round. Each vote is also an entry to win two VIP passes to the 30th Annual Broyles Award Ceremony.
Fan Voting Schedule:
Semifinal Fan Vote: November 25 at noon CST through November 30 at 11 PM CST
Finalist Fan Vote: December 2 at noon CST through December 7 at 11 PM CST
Winner Fan Vote: January 20 at noon CST through January 26 at 11 PM CST
Fans can vote at BroylesAward.com/Vote.
About the Broyles Award
, which provides free education and support resources for Alzheimer's caregivers nationwide.Frank & Barbara Broyles FoundationThe Broyles Award was created in 1996 recognizing Coach Frank Broyles' legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his hall of fame career as head coach at Arkansas. Proceeds from the Broyles Award benefit the
