Jim Mora Named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week
ATLANTA – UCLA head coach Jim Mora was named the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week, officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl announced Tuesday.
The Dodd Coach of the Week Award honors the football coach whose program embodies the award’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity, while also having success on the playing field during the previous week.
“Coach Mora understands The Dodd Trophy mentality with his commitment to the community and scholarship, as well as his will to win,” said Jim Terry, Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. “To have well-rounded players like Brett Hundley is a reflection of his coaching on and off the field.”
Improving its record to 9-2, No. 9 UCLA picked up a 38-20 win over rival No. 19 USC on Saturday in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a fourth in the win over the Trojans. As one of the five finalists for The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Hundley continues to pace the Pac-12.
Off the field, Hundley was one of eleven players named to the 2014 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team this season. The Good Works Team recognizes a select group of students who work hard to positively impact the lives of others. A volunteer with the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, it has been Hundley’s mission to help end epilepsy, a neurological disorder that affects his sister. Earlier in November, he volunteered at the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles’ 5K to raise money and awareness.
As a team, Mora’s squad boasts an impressive graduation rate of 82% that ranks second in the Pac-12 and an Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 979.
Mora stays active in the community with his Count on Me Family Foundation. The Count on Me Family Foundation supports children in need, particularly those from low socio-economic backgrounds, mentally and physically challenged children and at-risk youth by helping those children realize their potential and achieve their dreams. The mission of the foundation is to lend support and partner with organizations through grants, increase community awareness and empower organizations to improve the lives of children in the community.
The annual Dodd Trophy – along with the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week Award – celebrates the head coach of a team that enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity.
The winner of the 2014 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl week. 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 2014 season.
About The Dodd Trophy
The Dodd Trophy was established in 1976 to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field. The award honors the coach of a team which enjoys a successful football season, while also stressing the importance of academic excellence and character, as did Coach Dodd’s teams during his 22 years as head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Coach Dodd remains one of college football’s legendary figures, both as a coach and a player. Coach Dodd was a native of Galax, Virginia, and played his college ball at the University of Tennessee where his team had 27 wins, one loss and two ties during the three years he played. Coach Dodd was selected to the National College Football Hall of Fame both as a coach and as a player. Additional information about the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation can be found at www.bobbydoddfoundation.com.
About the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl has been the presenting sponsor of the Dodd Trophy since 2011. The Bowl is the ninth-oldest bowl game in the country and is one of New Year’s Six Bowls selected to host the new College Football Playoff. In 2014 and 2015, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will host games of top nationally ranked teams as assigned by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. In 2016, the Bowl will host its first National Semifinal Game (#1 vs. #4 or #2 vs. #3). The Bowl has recorded a string of 17 consecutive sellouts and has earned a reputation as one of the most competitive bowls in the country, with 56% of its games being decided by a touchdown or less. The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl has disbursed more than $125 million in team payouts over its 46-year history and has increased team payout every year since 1996. The Bowl also leads all other bowl games in charitable and scholarship contributions, giving more than $16.3 million to organizations in need since 2002.