University of Cincinnati head football coach Brian Kelly was named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2009 George Munger Award for coach of the year, presented by the Maxwell Football Club.
Kelly is in his third season at Cincinnati with a record of 30-6. He led UC to the 2008 BIG EAST Conference Championship and is the two-time defending BIG EAST Coach of the Year.
He has led the Bearcats to an 8-0 (4-0 BIG EAST Conference) start in 2009, the best opening to a season since 1954. UC is ranked No. 4 in the latest Associated Press poll, No. 5 in the Bowl Championship Series Standings, and No. 7 in the USA Today Coaches poll.
The award is named for former University of Pennsylvania coach George Munger. His devotion to ethics in athletics, and his commitment to education is the standard for which all college coaches should strive. Voters for the Maxwell College Awards are NCAA Head College Football Coaches, members of the Maxwell Football Club & sportswriters and sportscasters from across the country.
SEMIFINALISTS FOR THE 21ST GEORGE MUNGER AWARD:
Mack Brown, University of Texas
Kirk Ferentz, University of Iowa
Al Golden, Temple University
Paul Johnston, Georgia Tech
Brian Kelly, University of Cincinnati
Chip Kelly, University of Oregon
Urban Meyer, University of Florida
Joseph Paterno, Penn State University
Gary Patterson, TCU
Chris Petersen, Boise State University
Nick Saban, University of Alabama
Randy Shannon, University of Miami
Mike Stoops, University of Arizona
Kevin Sumlin, University of Houston
Dave Wannstedt, University of Pittsburgh
