The Sporting News today has announced that Falcons head coach Mike Smith has been named Coach of the Year. Smith will be showcased in the latest issue of the Sporting News, which features QB Matt Ryan on the cover and will be available on newsstands later this week.
Smith led the Falcons to an NFC South division championship with an NFC-best 13-3 record and captured the top seed in the NFC playoffs. In three seasons, Smith has compiled a 33-15 overall record which is the third-best record in the NFL since 2008.
"I would like to congratulate Coach Smith on winning this award for the second time in three seasons," general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "It is a true testament to Coach Smith's leadership, preparation and focus. This is a tremendous honor for Coach Smith and the entire organization."
Sporting News surveyed 617 NFL players, coaches and executives to determine the award winners. The magazine's Executive of the Year award will be announced in the Feb. 14 issue.
