Auburn's Gene Chizik has been named Home Depot's National Coach of the Year, an honor that will be presented Thursday night as part of The Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET.
Chizik was also a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award, which went to Oregon's Chip Kelly.
In just his second season at Auburn, Chizik led the Tigers to a 13-0 record after starting the season at No. 22 in the AP poll. Auburn rode its overwhelming win in the SEC championship game to its first No. 1 since 1985. The Tigers will play No. 2 Oregon in their first BCS National Championship Game.
The 20th annual awards show will feature the live presentation of nine player awards; the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) Contribution to College Football Award to Lee Corso; Disney Spirit Award; The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award; AllState Good Hands Award; and student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team.