Willie Fritz has strong case for national coach of the year honors

The turnaround by Tulane in 2022 is perhaps the most remarkable in college football history, whether you go by optics or analytics. There are a number of factors that have gone into the Green Wave’s success.

However, Tualne would not be preparing to make a New Year’s Six Bowl appearance, nor would they be on an equally impressive recruiting tear, without the influence and accomplishments of head coach Willie Fritz.

Fritz is in the final running for multiple national Coach of the Year awards as one of the final candidates for the likes of the 2022 Dodd Trophy, Eddie Robinson Trophy and the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award.

For the Dodd Trophy, he joins the likes of Kirby Smart (Georgia), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Chris Klieman (Kansas State) and Kyle Whittingham (Utah).

Fritz’s list of accomplishments in the 2022 season is a lengthy one. The 62-year old coached Tulane its third conference title in program history and its first in the American Athletic Conference. The Green Wave hosted this conference championship for the first time in school history.

This season marks the fourth 10-win season in program history and the first since 1998.

In earning seven conference wins – the most Tulane has had since 1934 – the Green Wave have also broken multiple records and streaks (both owned by themselves and others). Ending the regular season by snapping Cincinnati’s 32-game home winning streak is one that stands out. The AAC title game win completed what can only be described as the most remarkable turnaround from one season to the next, considering the overall lackluster history of the Tulane program as well, in college football history.

Now, the Green Wave take on the challenge of the Cotton Bowl against USC in Arlington. It’s the biggest bowl game the team has played in since World War II. The chance to knock off one of the true powerhouses in college football to cap off a storybook season that’s only gotten better by the chapter has everyone who cares about the program salivating.

What Fritz’s team has done goes beyond just accomplishments on paper though. Despite Tulane’s 2-10 finish last season, it retained nearly all of its team and all of its key players stayed on board. Players didn’t leave, nor were they cast aside after a highly disappointing season. Instead, several of them elevated their NFL stock and made history under Fritz.

Aside from what goes on during live game action on the field, the most impressive thing about this team has been its mental maturity and steady mindset. Those things only come from high character players themselves and the culture of the coaching staff. All of that starts at the top.

Tulane consistently talks about “going 1-0 every week,” and it’s clear that it’s more than just some cliche saying to them.

“Our expectations are very high and the guys adhere to our expectations. You can (try to) do everything you want but you’ve got to have the Jimmys and the Joes and we’ve got some tough Jimmys and Joes,” Fritz noted this week.

His players believe in their program, and they believe in Fritz. College football standouts of the future do as well, evidenced by Tulane’s success with the high school prospects and in the transfer portal. Between its latest signings and the announced returns of quarterback Michael Pratt and center Sincere Haynesworth for next year, Tulane is poised for another huge season. It looks to be the dawn of a new era in which a once lowly team may finally be be a consistent title contender.

It’s for all of the above that Fritz has become Tulane’s first AAC Coach of the Year and just the program’s second conference coach of the year winner ever. Between the statistics, storylines and purely what Fritz embodies as a leader, it’s hard to see any other answer here.

Hand him the Dodd Trophy, give him the Eddie Robinson and send him home with the Bear Bryant. He has earned it all.