ATLANTA (Aug. 29, 2024) – The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation, PNC Bank and Peach Bowl, Inc. will celebrate former Navy Head Coach Paul Johnson's 20th anniversary of winning the national coaching award Sept. 7 during Navy's home football game against Temple.
 
Representatives will honor Johnson during an on-field presentation in the first half at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. In attendance will be Eddie Meyers, Navy's standout running back from 1978-82, who currently serves as Georgia regional president for PNC Bank, the official presenting sponsor of The Dodd Trophy. Meyers finished his Navy career as an All-American with 2,935 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns – still ranking in the top-five for both all-time and single game rushing yards in program history – and held the Army-Navy game rushing record for 40 years.
 
The Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank is the most coveted national Coach of the Year award in college football and celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also representing programs with the highest ideals of scholarship, leadership and integrity on and off the field – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's philosophy.
 
Coach Johnson was awarded The Dodd Trophy in 2004 after leading the Midshipmen to the program's first 10-win season since 1905. Johnson and Navy secured their second consecutive Commander-in-Chief's Trophy and finished the season ranked No. 24 in the final Associated Press poll following an Emerald Bowl victory over New Mexico.
 
Johnson transformed the Navy football program during his six seasons in Annapolis, leading the Midshipmen to a 45-29 overall record. Johnson is the only Navy coach to lead the Midshipmen to five consecutive Commander-in-Chief's trophies and also became the first coach in Navy football history with five bowl appearances. As a result, Coach Johnson was recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2023 for his outstanding head coaching career.
 
"It's an honor to travel to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to celebrate Coach Johnson's 20th anniversary of winning The Dodd Trophy," said Jim Terry, chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation.  "His legacy in Annapolis is still felt today and he's continuously represented everything our award stands for, both on and off the field."
 
"Coach Johnson has truly had a lasting impact on Navy football and our sport as a whole," said Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and President Gary Stokan. "His leadership impacted the lives of countless student-athletes throughout his career, and we're looking forward to recognizing him in front of the Navy faithful next week."
 
Since 2014, officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. have celebrated the major anniversaries of previous winners of The Dodd Trophy by honoring them during a game on their campus. Coaches such as Vince Dooley (Georgia), Bobby Bowden (Florida State), Bobby Ross (Georgia Tech), Dick Sheridan (NC State), George Welsh (Virginia), Dick MacPherson (Syracuse), Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech), Ralph Friedgen (Maryland), Bill Snyder (Kansas State), Lloyd Carr (Michigan), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), Ken Hatfield (Air Force), Tom Osborne (Nebraska) and Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin) were all recognized at their respective schools.
 
The winner of the 2024 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during bowl week of this year's College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2024 season.