Dec. 1, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) – Two seasons in the Atlantic Coast Conference, two coach of the year awards for Paul Johnson.

The Georgia Tech coach once again was the overwhelming choice as the ACC's top coach as selected by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.

Johnson received 24 of a possible 40 votes cast by ACSMA members, easily outdistancing his counterpart in this week's Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game. Clemson's Dabo Swinney had 10 votes, followed by Duke's David Cutcliffe (4) and Boston College's Frank Spaziani (2).

This marks the sixth time a Georgia Tech coach has received the award, and the third time this decade after George O'Leary won it in 2000.

Johnson claimed the award last year after the Yellow Jackets burst onto the scene and ran his complex option-based offense with aplomb, and they one-upped themselves this year by winning the Coastal Division for the first time since 2006, claiming a spot in the league title game and vaulting into the top 10.

The run-first offense led the ACC in scoring (35 points per game), total offense (440.5 ypg), rushing offense (305 ypg) and pass efficiency (160.7 rating). As a result, five starters made the All-ACC first team – including quarterback Josh Nesbitt, running back Jonathan Dwyer and even a receiver in Demaryius Thomas. They helped Georgia Tech (10-2, 7-1) finish with the ACC's best overall and conference records of the season, and will face the Tigers for the 2009 crown and a spot in the FedEx Orange Bowl.

2009 ACC Coach of the Year Results as voted on the by Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA)
Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech (24)
Dabo Swinney, Clemson (10)
David Cutcliffe, Duke (4)
Frank Spaziani, Boston College (2)