By Missy Grimes
December 18, 2024
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – After guiding Tennessee to another 10-win season and its first College Football Playoff berth, head coach Josh Heupel has been named a semifinalist for the George Munger Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Wednesday.
Established in 1989, the George Munger Award is awarded annually to the sport’s most outstanding coach. This accolade recognizes exceptional leadership, strategic innovation and significant impact on the game. The honor is named in tribute to George Munger, a respected figure in college football known for his influential coaching career.
It’s the second time in three years that Heupel is a semifinalist for the accolade. He was a finalist in 2022.
Heupel became the third coach in school history with multiple 10-win regular seasons, joining Phillip Fulmer and Gen. Robert Neyland. The Vols joined Texas and Georgia as the only SEC programs to win 10 regular season games in 2024.
After being picked seventh by the media at SEC Media Days, Tennessee finished tied for second in the SEC with Georgia at 6-2. The Vols have produced at least a .500 record in SEC play in all four seasons under Heupel with 6-2 marks in two out of the last three seasons. Heupel is the first coach since Phillip Fulmer (2003-04) to win at least six SEC games twice over a three-year span.
Tennessee has won 30 games over the past three seasons under Heupel’s watch, which ranks third among charter SEC members and ninth in the FBS during that span. The 30 victories are the most over a three-year span for Tennessee since winning 30 games from 1998-2000.
Heupel’s Vols head into the CFP ranked in the FBS top 10 in 12 major categories: fourth-down defense (1st – 28.6), scoring defense (4th – 13.9), third-down defense (5th – 29.5), yards per play allowed (4th – 4.33), total defense (4th – 278.3), tackles for loss (7th – 7.8), total offense (8th – 462.9), rushing defense (8th – 99.6), punt return average (8th – 15.7), scoring offense (8th – 37.3), rushing offense (9th – 232.0) and team passing efficiency defense (9th – 110.51).
The 2024 campaign was the fourth 10-win season in seven years as a head coach for Heupel, who is now 65-22 (.747) overall.
The No. 9 seed Vols play at No. 8 seed Ohio State at 8 p.m. ET Saturday live on ABC and ESPN.
2024 Tennessee Postseason Award Honors as of Dec. 18
HC Josh Heupel
George Munger Award Semifinalist
DC Tim Banks
Broyles Award Finalist
DB Will Brooks
Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
DB Boo Carter
Freshman All-SEC
TE Ethan Davis
Freshman All-SEC
QB Nico Iamaleava
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Finalist
OL Cooper Mays
Rimington Trophy Finalist
All-America First Team (USA Today, SI, Sporting News)
All-America Second Team (AFCA, The Athletic)
All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
All-SEC Second Team (AP)
WR Bru McCoy
Witten Award Semifinalist
Comeback Player of the Year Semifinalist
SEC Community Service Team
DB Jermod McCoy
Thorpe Award Semifinalist
All-America Second Team (AP, SI)
All-SEC First Team (AP)
All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
DE James Pearce Jr.
Bednarik Award Semifinalist
Lombardi Award Semifinalist
Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist
All-SEC First Team (Coaches)
All-SEC Second Team (AP)
LB Keenan Pili
NFF Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
DL Jordan Ross
Freshman All-SEC
RB Dylan Sampson
SEC Offensive Player of the Year (AP, Coaches)
USA Today SEC Player of the Year
All-America Second Team (The Athletic, Walter Camp, FWAA, USA Today, SI, Sporting News)
All-America Third Team (AP)
Maxwell Award Semifinalist
Doak Walker Award Semifinalist
All-SEC First Team (AP, Coaches)
LB Jalen Smith
Freshman All-SEC
OL Javontez Spraggins
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
KOS Josh Turbyville
All-SEC Third Team (Coaches)
Offensive Line
Joe Moore Award Semifinalist
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