Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines has earned the top honor for a college football assistant coach.
Haines was announced as the recipient of the 2025 Broyles Award at a ceremony in Arkansas Thursday evening.
He is the first assistant coach from Indiana to win the award. Haines was also a finalist in 2024.
For the second year in a row, Haines orchestrated one of the best defensive units in the sport.
Despite playing the No. 10 most difficult strength of schedule, nationally Indiana was No. 2 in scoring defense (11.7 ppg), No. 2 in rushing defense (77.19 ypg), No. 24 in passing defense (188.8 ypg), and No. 4 in total defense (266.0 ypg).
IU was No. 3 with 30 turnovers created in 2025, No. 1 with 129 tackles for loss, No. 2 with 46 sacks, No. 8 in opponent third down conversions (30.1%), and No. 2 in opponent red zone touchdown percentage (37%).
After a dominant 2024 campaign, Haines elevated the performance of the Indiana defense in 2025 despite having to replace several starters from last season including linebacker Jailin Walker, defensive tackles James Carpenter and C.J. West, cornerback Jamier Johnson, safety Shawn Asbury, rover Terry Jones, and edge Lanell Carr.
Indiana’s defense did not allow a second half touchdown to then No. 2 Oregon on the road in October, or then No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. No. 9 Alabama never found the end zone against IU in the Rose Bowl.
Nine members of Haines’ 2025 defense earned some measure of All-Big Ten honors.
That list includes three players who were reserves last year for Indiana who developed into stars in 2025 — linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones, and defensive tackle Tyrique Tucker.
The other 2025 finalists for the Broyles Award were Georgia OC Mike Bobo, Miami (FL) DC Corey Hetherman, Ohio State DC Matt Patricia, and Texas Tech DC Shiel Wood.
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