Vanderbilt football head coach Clark Lea has earned recognition as a finalist for the prestigious 2025 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award. This announcement was made on Wednesday afternoon by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Peach Bowl.
Lea is in esteemed company, competing against notable coaches such as Curt Cignetti from Indiana, Ryan Day of Ohio State, Joey McGuire from Texas Tech, and Kirby Smart of Georgia. The award is presented to the coach who not only achieves success on the field but also exemplifies leadership, scholarship, and integrity off the field.
The selection of finalists was conducted by previous winners, national media representatives, a member of the Dodd family, and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. The winner of the award will be revealed during the week leading up to the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl.
This week, Lea also received the 2025 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, further solidifying his status as one of the top coaches in the nation. Under his leadership, the program has experienced a remarkable turnaround, improving from a 2-10 record to a 10-2 record in just two seasons.
Lea”s strategic use of the transfer portal and effective offseason recruiting has significantly contributed to the revitalization of Vanderbilt football. Key additions, including standout quarterback Diego Pavia, have played crucial roles in this transformation.
Vanderbilt”s ascent to No. 13 in the national rankings reflects Lea”s vision and the successful establishment of a resilient team culture. Since taking over as head coach in December 2020, Lea has focused on fostering a team characterized by toughness, determination, and an underdog mentality.
In the past two seasons, Lea has guided his team to an impressive combined record of 17-8. The ten victories this season mark the highest total in the program”s history.
In related news, the No. 13 ranked Vanderbilt women”s basketball team will face UAlbany at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. Meanwhile, the No. 13 ranked Vanderbilt men”s basketball team recently competed against Memphis.
The women”s basketball team aims for its first 11-0 start since the 1995-1996 season, a milestone it has achieved only three times in its history. The matchup against UAlbany is set to tip off at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
