GREENSBORO, N.C. (the ACC.com) – Paul Johnson, who guided Georgia Tech to 10 regular-season wins and the Coastal Division football championship, has been chosen as the Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year.
Johnson received 32 of the 55 votes cast by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA). Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher finished second in the balloting with 14, followed by Boston College’s Steve Addazio with six votes and Louisville’s Bobby Petrino with three.
“I accept this award on behalf of our football program – assistant coaches, players, staff, and everyone involved,” Johnson said. “As everyone knows, this is not a one-person award. I appreciate the honor.”
Johnson, whose team carries a five-game winning streak into Saturday night’s Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game against Florida State, led the Yellow Jackets to a 6-2 ACC mark atop their division after they were picked for a fifth-place finish (with just one first-place vote) in the conference’s preseason media poll.
Georgia Tech finished the regular season leading the ACC in total offense with 469.1 yards per game, and the Yellow Jackets’ 333.8 yards rushing per game ranks third nationally. Tech’s 37.2 points per game also lead the conference.
Johnson’s final two regular-season games saw the Yellow Jackets post a 28-6 win over No. 19 Clemson in Atlanta, followed by a thrilling 30-24 overtime win at No. 9 Georgia last Saturday. Georgia Tech has reached the 10-win mark for only the ninth time in school history and the first time since 2009.
This marks the third ACC Coach of the Year honor for Johnson in his seven seasons at Georgia Tech. He was also recognized in 2008 and 2009, becoming the first ACC coach to win the award in his first two years at a member school. It is the eighth time overall that a Yellow Jackets’ head coach has received the award. Johnson will enter the ACC Championship Game with a 57-34 record at Georgia Tech and a 164-73 mark in 18 years as a college head coach.
