Freeze named finalist for George Munger Coach of the Year Award

After leading the Flames through its greatest season in program history, Liberty Head Football Coach Hugh Freeze continues to be honored.

The second year head coach has been named one of six finalists for the 2020 George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award. The winner will be announced on January 19, 2021, and the award will be presented on the winner’s campus in the spring.

The half dozen standout coaches named as finalist for the award include Tom Allen (Indiana), Ryan Day (Ohio State), Jamey Chadwell (Coastal Carolina), Luke Fickell (Cincinnati), Hugh Freeze (Liberty) and Nick Saban (Alabama).

Freeze led Liberty to a season of “firsts” in 2020, including the teams’ first-ever national ranking, first win over an ACC opponent, the best start in school history (8-0 to start 2020), first-ever win over a top-25 FBS program and back-to-back bowl game wins.

Under Freeze’s leadership, Liberty defeated a pair of ACC foes in Syracuse and in-state opponent Virginia Tech. The two wins made Liberty the first non-Power 5 team to post a pair of wins over Power 5 schools in the same season since Houston in 2015.

The Flames finished the season with a 10-1 record, tying the program’s record for wins in a season (Liberty finished the 2008 season with a 10-2 record).

Liberty capped off the 2020 season with a thrilling 37-34 overtime win over No. 9/11 Coastal Carolina in the Cure Bowl on Dec. 26 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The win marked Liberty’s first-ever victory over a top-25 FBS ranked program.

With the Cure Bowl win over its former Big South rivals, Liberty became the second transitioning team in NCAA history to win consecutive bowl games during its first two full seasons at the FBS level.

The George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award is named after 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. The George Munger Award was founded in 1989.

Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA Head Football Coaches, Sports Information Directors and selected national media. Ed Orgeron of LSU was the 2019 winner of the award.

2020 George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Finalists

Tom Allen, Indiana

Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina

Ryan Day, Ohio State

Luke Fickell, Cincinnati

Hugh Freeze, Liberty

Nick Saban, Alabama