Duke defensive coordinator Jonathan Patke was one of 65 assistant coaches nominated for the Broyles Award on Tuesday afternoon.
The trophy is given to the nation’s best assistant coach each season, and Patke’s work in his first year with the Blue Devils deserves commendation.
Through 11 games this season, the Blue Devils have racked up 99 tackles for loss (second among FBS defenses), 25 turnovers (also second), and 36 sacks (fifth) while allowing 6.0 yards per pass attempt (14th). Miami quarterback Cam Ward, a seasonlong contender for the Heisman Trophy, was the only quarterback to throw for more than 258 yards against Patke’s squad, and the Blue Devils nearly ended the season with as many interceptions (12) as touchdowns allowed (14).
The Blue Devils allowed 22.6 points per game this season, fifth-fewest in the ACC, and held seven of their first 11 opponents to 21 points or fewer.
Patke spent four years as [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag]’s linebackers coach with the Miami Hurricanes from 2018-21 before heading to Incarnate Word to coordinate the Cardinals’ defense. He spent one season there and one season in the same role at Texas State before rejoining Diaz in Durham.