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Mid-American Conference football individual awards
Annual college football awards
Annual college football awards
The Mid-American Conference football awards are given annually by the Mid-American Conference (MAC) at the conclusion of each college football season. The conference gives out a total of five awards, the Offensive, Defensive, and Freshman Players of the Year, the Coach of the Year, and the Vern Smith Leadership Award, which is given to the league's MVP in that season. The Vern Smith Award is selected by a vote of the coaches in the MAC while the remaining awards are selected by the MAC News Media Association.
Offensive Player of the Year

Winners
Source:
Winners by school
| School | Wins | Seasons | Western Michigan Broncos}} | Western Michigan | Bowling Green Falcons}} | Bowling Green | Toledo Rockets}} | Toledo | Northern Illinois Huskies}} | Northern Illinois | Central Michigan Chippewas}} | Central Michigan | Miami RedHawks}} | Miami (OH) | Ball State Cardinals}} | Ball State | Marshall Thundering Herd}} | Marshall | Ohio Bobcats}} | Ohio | Kent State Golden Flashes}} | Kent State | Buffalo Bulls}} | Buffalo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1976, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2000, 2005, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 1973, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1991, 1992, 2004, 2015, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1995, 2017, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 1978, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 1979, 1982, 1990, 1994, 2007, 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 1966, 1972, 1986, 1998, 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1980, 1989, 1993, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1968, 1981, 1996, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 1965, 1987, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 2018, 2020 |
Defensive Player of the Year

Winners
Source:
Winners by school
| School | Wins | Seasons | Miami RedHawks}} | Miami (OH) | Western Michigan Broncos}} | Western Michigan | Ball State Cardinals}} | Ball State | Bowling Green Falcons}} | Bowling Green | Northern Illinois Huskies}} | Northern Illinois | Toledo Rockets}} | Toledo | Central Michigan Chippewas}} | Central Michigan | Akron Zips}} | Akron | Buffalo Bulls}} | Buffalo | Kent State Golden Flashes}} | Kent State | Marshall Thundering Herd}} | Marshall | Ohio Bobcats}} | Ohio | Temple Owls}} | Temple | Eastern Michigan Eagles}} | Eastern Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 1968, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2007, 2014, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | 1965, 1966, 1985, 1986, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2019, 2021, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 1975, 1978, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1996, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 1969, 1970, 1993, 1994, 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 1979, 1980, 2008, 2017, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1967, 1971, 1976, 1984 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 1982, 2005, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 2000, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 2013, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 1972, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 2001, 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2022 |
Special Teams Player of the Year



Winners
| Season | Player | Pos | Team | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Brad Selent | K | Western Michigan | |
| 1999 | P | Ohio | ||
| 2000 | RS | Northern Illinois | ||
| 2001 | Dave Zastudil (2) | P | Ohio | |
| Steve Azar | K | Northern Illinois | ||
| 2002 | Dan Sheldon | RS | Northern Illinois | |
| 2003 | Steve Azar (2) | K | Northern Illinois | |
| 2004 | RS | Miami (OH) | ||
| 2005 | Jason Robbins | K | Toledo | |
| 2006 | Brian Jackson | K | Ball State | |
| 2007 | P | Toledo | ||
| 2008 | RS | Central Michigan | ||
| 2009 | Antonio Brown (2) | RS | Central Michigan | |
| 2010 | RS | Toledo | ||
| 2011 | Matt Weller | K | Ohio | |
| 2012 | RS | Kent State | ||
| 2013 | Jeremiah Detmer | K | Toledo | |
| 2014 | K | Ball State | ||
| 2015 | Aregeros Turner | RS | Northern Illinois | |
| 2016 | RS | Western Michigan | ||
| 2017 | Darius Phillips (2) | RS | Western Michigan | |
| 2018 | RS | Toledo | ||
| 2019 | Matthew Trickett | K | Kent State | |
| 2020 | RS | Western Michigan | ||
| 2021 | Khalil Pimpleton | RS | Central Michigan | |
| 2022 | Alex McNulty | K | Buffalo | |
| 2023 | K | Miami (OH) | ||
| 2024 | Malcolm Gillie | RS | Ball State | |
| 2025 | Da’Realyst Clark | RS | Kent State |
Source:
Winners by school
| School | Wins | Years | Northern Illinois Huskies}} | Northern Illinois | Toledo Rockets}} | Toledo | Western Michigan Broncos}} | Western Michigan | Ball State Cardinals}} | Ball State | Central Michigan Chippewas}} | Central Michigan | Kent State Golden Flashes}} | Kent State | Ohio Bobcats}} | Ohio | Miami RedHawks}} | Miami (OH) | Buffalo Bulls}} | Buffalo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1998, 2016, 2017, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 2006, 2014, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 2008, 2009, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 2012, 2019, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 1999, 2001, 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 2004, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2022 |
Freshman Player of the Year

The Freshman Player of the Year award was first given by the MAC after the 1982 football season. That year's winner, Brian McClure, won a slew of MAC accords, including Offensive Player of the Year three times, and the Vern Smith award twice. Western Michigan is the team with the most awards, with ten award winners.
Winners
Source:
Winners by school
| School | Wins | Seasons | Western Michigan Broncos}} | Western Michigan | Ball State Cardinals}} | Ball State | Central Michigan Chippewas}} | Central Michigan | Bowling Green Falcons}} | Bowling Green | Kent State Golden Flashes}} | Kent State | Miami RedHawks}} | Miami (OH) | Northern Illinois Huskies}} | Northern Illinois | Buffalo Bulls}} | Buffalo | Ohio Bobcats}} | Ohio | Akron Zips}} | Akron | Eastern Michigan Eagles}} | Eastern Michigan | Temple Owls}} | Temple | Toledo Rockets}} | Toledo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1983, 1989, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 1987, 1993, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 1988, 1995, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1982, 1998, 2011, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1986, 1991, 1994, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 1992, 2001, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 1984, 1985, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 2002, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 2016, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 1996 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 1990 |
Vern Smith Leadership Award
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The Vern Smith Leadership Award was started in 1982 by the Downtown Toledo Athletic Club. In that year, it was known as the Jefferson Award and the name was changed to honor the University of Toledo Athletic Director Vern Smith in 1987. The award is given to the top football player in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Only four players have won the award multiple times, Larry English being the only non-quarterback to win it twice. In 1996, Brad Maynard won the award, and is the only special teams player to win the award as of the end of the 2025 season. The Northern Illinois Huskies leads with seven awards all-time. The Vern Smith award is the only one voted on by the coaches, with the Coach of the Year, as well as the Players of the Year are selected by the media.
Winners
| Season | Player | Pos | Team | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | LB | Central Michigan | ||
| 1983 | QB | Northern Illinois | ||
| 1984 | QB | Bowling Green | ||
| 1985 | Brian McClure (2) | QB | Bowling Green | |
| 1986 | Terry Morris | QB | Miami (OH) | |
| 1987 | RB | Kent State | ||
| 1988 | QB | Western Michigan | ||
| 1989 | QB | Ball State | ||
| 1990 | Jeff Bender | QB | Central Michigan | |
| 1991 | QB | Bowling Green | ||
| 1992 | Erik White (2) | QB | Bowling Green | |
| 1993 | QB | Ball State | ||
| 1994 | Brian Pruitt | RB | Central Michigan | |
| 1995 | Wasean Tait | RB | Toledo | |
| 1996 | P | Ball State | ||
| 1997 | WR | Marshall | ||
| 1998 | RB | Miami (OH) | ||
| 1999 | QB | Marshall | ||
| 2000 | Robert Sanford | RB | Western Michigan | |
| 2001 | QB | Marshall | ||
| 2002 | Byron Leftwich (2) | QB | Marshall | |
| 2003 | QB | Miami (OH) | ||
| 2004 | QB | Akron | ||
| 2005 | QB | Toledo | ||
| WR | Western Michigan | |||
| 2006 | RB | Northern Illinois | ||
| 2007 | DE | Northern Illinois | ||
| 2008 | Larry English (2) | DE | Northern Illinois | |
| 2009 | QB | Central Michigan | ||
| 2010 | RB | Northern Illinois | ||
| 2011 | QB | Northern Illinois | ||
| 2012 | QB | Northern Illinois | ||
| 2013 | Jordan Lynch (2) | QB | Northern Illinois | |
| 2014 | C | Toledo | ||
| 2015 | QB | Bowling Green | ||
| 2016 | QB | Western Michigan | ||
| 2017 | QB | Toledo | ||
| 2018 | DE | Northern Illinois | ||
| 2019 | RB | Western Michigan | ||
| 2020 | RB | Buffalo | ||
| 2021 | QB | Kent State | ||
| 2022 | QB | Ohio | ||
| 2023 | QB | Toledo | ||
| 2024 | TE | Bowling Green | ||
| 2025 | DE | Western Michigan |
Source:
Winners by school
| School | Wins | Seasons | Northern Illinois Huskies}} | Northern Illinois | Bowling Green Falcons}} | Bowling Green | Toledo Rockets}} | Toledo | Western Michigan Broncos}} | Western Michigan | Central Michigan Chippewas}} | Central Michigan | Marshall Thundering Herd}} | Marshall | Ball State Cardinals}} | Ball State | Miami RedHawks}} | Miami (OH) | Kent State Golden Flashes}} | Kent State | Buffalo Bulls}} | Buffalo | Akron Zips}} | Akron | Ohio Bobcats}} | Ohio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1983, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 1984, 1985, 1991, 1992, 2015, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 1995, 2005, 2014, 2017, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 1988, 2000, 2005, 2016, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1982, 1990, 1994, 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 1989, 1993, 1996 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 1986, 1998, 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 1987, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2022 |
Coach of the Year

The MAC has awarded a Coach of the Year award every year since 1965. The first award went to Bo Schembechler of Miami University. Only one coach has won the award more than twice, with Frank Lauterbur winning the award in 1967, 1969, and 1970. Only two coaches have won the award beyond their tenth year of coaching. Bill Hess won the award in 1968 in his 11th year of coaching the Ohio Bobcats and Herb Deromedi won the award in 1990, his 13th year of coaching Central Michigan. Also, only one coach, Bill Mallory, has won the award coaching two separate teams. He first earned the award in 1973 while coaching Miami University, and then won ten years later giving Northern Illinois their first Coach of the Year award. Toledo leads all schools with nine awards. Temple won their first award in 2009 when head coach Al Golden won his first MAC Coach of the Year award.
Winners
Source:
| Coach (X) | Denotes the number of times the coach has been selected |
|---|
| Season | Coach | School | Year with school | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Miami | 3rd | 7–3 (5–1) | |
| 1966 | Western Michigan | 3rd | 7–3 (5–1) | |
| 1967 | Toledo | 5th | 9–1 (5–1) | |
| 1968 | Ohio | 11th | 10–1 (6–0) | |
| 1969 | (2) | Toledo | 7th | 11–0 (5–0) |
| 1970 | (3) | Toledo | 8th | 12–0 (5–0) |
| 1971 | Toledo | 1st | 12–0 (5–0) | |
| 1972 | Kent State | 1st | 6–5 (4–1) | |
| 1973 | Miami | 5th | 11–0 (5–0) | |
| 1974 | Miami | 1st | 10–0–1 (5–0) | |
| 1975 | Ball State | 1st | 9–2 (4–2) | |
| 1976 | Western Michigan | 2nd | 7–4 (6–3) | |
| 1977 | Eastern Michigan | 2nd | 8–3 (4–3) | |
| 1978 | Ball State | 1st | 10–1 (8–0) | |
| 1979 | Toledo | 3rd | 7–3–1 (7–1–1) | |
| 1980 | Central Michigan | 3rd | 9–2 (7–2) | |
| 1981 | (2) | Toledo | 5th | 9–3 (8–1) |
| 1982 | Bowling Green | 6th | 7–5 (7–2) | |
| 1983 | (2) | Northern Illinois | 3rd | 10–2 (8–1) |
| 1984 | Toledo | 3rd | 9–2–1 (7–1–1) | |
| 1985 | (2) | Bowling Green | 9th | 11–1 (9–0) |
| 1986 | Kent State | 1st | 5–6 (5–3) | |
| 1987 | Eastern Michigan | 5th | 10–2 (7–1) | |
| 1988 | Western Michigan | 2nd | 9–3 (7–1) | |
| 1989 | Ball State | 5th | 7–3–2 (6–1–1) | |
| 1990 | (2) | Central Michigan | 13th | 8–3–1 (7–1) |
| 1991 | Bowling Green | 1st | 11–1 (8–0) | |
| 1992 | (2) | Bowling Green | 2nd | 10–2 (8–0) |
| 1993 | (2) | Ball State | 9th | 8–3–1 (7–0–1) |
| 1994 | Central Michigan | 1st | 9–3 (8–1) | |
| 1995 | Toledo | 5th | 11–0–1 (7–0–1) | |
| 1996 | Ohio | 2nd | 6–6 (5–3) | |
| 1997 | (2) | Toledo | 7th | 9–3 (7–1) |
| 1998 | Marshall | 2nd | 12–1 (7–1) | |
| 1999 | (2) | Marshall | 3rd | 13–0 (8–0) |
| 2000 | Western Michigan | 4th | 9–3 (7–1) | |
| 2001 | Bowling Green | 1st | 8–3 (5–3) | |
| 2002 | Northern Illinois | 6th | 8–4 (7–1) | |
| 2003 | Miami | 5th | 13–1 (8–0) | |
| 2004 | Akron | 1st | 6–5 (6–2) | |
| 2005 | Western Michigan | 1st | 7–4 (5–3) | |
| 2006 | Ohio | 2nd | 9–5 (7–1) | |
| 2007 | Buffalo | 2nd | 5–7 (5–3) | |
| 2008 | Ball State | 6th | 12–2 (8–0) | |
| 2009 | Temple | 3rd | 9–3 (7–1) | |
| 2010 | Miami | 2nd | 9–4 (8–1) | |
| 2011 | Eastern Michigan | 3rd | 6–6 (4–4) | |
| 2012 | Kent State | 2nd | 11–3 (8–0) | |
| 2013 | Northern Illinois | 1st | 12–1 (8–0) | |
| 2014 | Western Michigan | 2nd | 8–5 (6–2) | |
| 2015 | Toledo | 5th | 9–2 (6–2) | |
| 2016 | (2) | Western Michigan | 4th | 13–1 (8–0) |
| 2017 | Toledo | 2nd | 11–3 (7–1) | |
| 2018 | Buffalo | 4th | 10–4 (7–1) | |
| 2019 | Central Michigan | 1st | 8–6 (6–2) | |
| 2020 | (2) | Buffalo | 6th | 6–1 (5–0) |
| 2021 | Northern Illinois | 3rd | 9–5 (6–2) | |
| 2022 | Ohio | 2nd | 10–4 (7–1) | |
| 2023 | (2) | Toledo | 8th | 11–3 (8–0) |
| 2024 | (2) | Ohio | 4th | 11–3 (7–1) |
| 2025 | Western Michigan | 3rd | 8–4 (7–1) |
Winners by school
| School (First season) | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Toledo (1952) | 11 | 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1979, 1871, 1984, 1995, 1997, 2015, 2017, 2023 |
| Western Michigan (1948) | 8 | 1966, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2005, 2014, 2016, 2025 |
| Central Michigan (1975) | 6 | 1980, 1990, 1994, 1977, 1987, 2019 |
| Miami (1948) | 5 | 1965, 1973, 1974, 2003, 2010 |
| Ball State (1975) | 5 | 1975, 1978, 1989, 1993, 2008 |
| Bowling Green (1952) | 5 | 1982, 1985, 1991, 1991, 2001 |
| Ohio (1947) | 5 | 1968, 1996, 2006, 2022, 2024 |
| Northern Illinois (1975) | 4 | 1983, 2002, 2013, 2021 |
| Eastern Michigan (1976) | 3 | 1977, 1987, 2011 |
| Kent State (1951) | 3 | 1972, 1986, 2012 |
| Buffalo (1999) | 3 | 2007, 2018. 2020 |
| Marshall (1954) | 2 | 1988, 1999 |
| Akron (1992) | 1 | 2004 |
| Temple (2007) | 1 | 2009 |
| Butler (1947) | 0 | |
| Cincinnati (1947) | 0 | |
| Central Florida (2002) | 0 | |
| UMass (2011) | 0 |
References
References
- "Phil Villapiano (1976) - Hall of Fame". Bowling Green Falcons athletics.
- (November 30, 1999). "Miami's Dustin Cohen Named MAC's Defensive Player of the Year". Miami RedHawks athletics.
- "MAC Announces 2024 Postseason Football Awards & All-Conference Teams".
- (2009-07-21). "Vern Smith Leadership Award". Mid-American Conference.
- (2009-07-21). "MAC Coaches of the Year". Mid-American Conference.
- (2009-07-21). "All-Time MAC Coaching Records". Mid-American Conference.
- (2 December 2009). "MAC Announces 2009 Post Season Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (December 2, 2003). "Three MAC Football Specialty Awards Handed Out". Mid-American Conference.
- (November 30, 2004). "MAC Announces 2004 Individual Football Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (November 28, 2005). "All-MAC Football Awards Announced". Mid-American Conference.
- (November 27, 2006). "All-MAC Football Team and Individual Award Winners Announced". Mid-American Conference.
- (November 27, 2007). "MAC Announces 2007 Football Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (December 3, 2008). "MAC Announces Football Post Season Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (December 1, 2010). "MAC Announces 2010 Football Post Season Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (November 30, 2011). "MAC Names 2011 All-MAC Teams & Post Season Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (November 28, 2012). "MAC Announces 2012 Football Postseason Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (December 4, 2013). "MAC Announces 2013 All-MAC Teams & Postseason Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (December 3, 2014). "MAC Announces 2014 All-MAC Teams & Postseason Football Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (December 2, 2015). "MAC Announces 2015 All-MAC Football Teams and Post Season Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (November 30, 2016). "MAC Announces 2016 All-MAC Teams and Postseason Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (November 29, 2017). "MAC Announces 2017 Postseason Football Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (November 28, 2018). "MAC Announces 2018 All-MAC First, Second, Third Teams and Postseason Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (December 4, 2019). "MAC Announces 2019 All-MAC Teams & Postseason Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (December 14, 2020). "MAC Announces 2020 Football All-MAC and Specialty Awards". Mid-American Conference.
- (December 1, 2021). "MAC Announces 2021 Postseason Football Awards & All-MAC Teams". Mid-American Conference.
- (November 29, 2022). "MAC Announces 2022 Postseason Football Awards & All-Conference Teams". Mid-American Conference.
- (December 4, 2023). "MAC Announces 2023 Postseason Football Awards & All-Conference Teams". Mid-American Conference.
- (December 4, 2024). "MAC Announces 2024 Postseason Football Awards & All-Conference Teams". Mid-American Conference.
- (December 4, 2025). "MAC Announces 2025 Postseason Football Awards & All-Conference Teams". Mid-American Conference.
- "History and Records". Mid-American Conference.
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