| Nominee |
School |
Coach |
| Keegan Herring |
Arizona State University |
Dennis Erickson |
| Frank Duong |
Purdue University |
Joe Tiller |
| Garth Hartung |
Bowling Green State University |
Greg Brandon |
| Clay Stephens |
Western Kentucky University |
David Elson |
| Jake Kasser |
University of Memphis |
Tommy West |
| Anthony Gebhart |
Western Michigan University |
Bill Cubit |
| Kurtis Von Bargen |
East Carolina University |
Skip Holtz |
| Jordan Kay |
University of California |
Jeff Tedford |
| John Sullivan |
University of New Mexico |
Rocky Long |
| Todd Koenig |
Ohio University |
Frank Solich |
| David Giesen |
San Jose State University |
Dick Tomey |
| Michael Hancock |
Florida Atlantic University |
Howard Schellenberger |
| Luke Swan |
University of Wisconsin |
Bret Bielema |
| Ia Falo |
Boise State University |
Chris Peterson |
| Greg Hiett |
University of Texas El Paso |
Mike Price |
| Matthew Goldberg |
University of Maryland |
Ralph Friedgen |
| Robenson Jean |
University of Central Florida |
George O'Leary |
| Joey Stutson |
Louisiana State University |
Les Miles |
| Tyler Johnson |
University of Minnesota |
Tim Brewster |
| Alex Derenthal |
Temple University |
Al Golden |
| Jon Cooper |
University of Virginia |
Al Groh |
| Kevin Tuminello |
Georgia Institute of Technology |
Chan Gailey |
| Chase McBride |
University of Colorado |
Dan Hawkins |
| Spencer Larson |
University of Arizona |
Mike Stoops |
| Alex Detwiler |
University of Tulsa |
Todd Graham |
| Terry Clayton |
University of Kentucky |
Rich Brooks |
