Nevada offensive coordinator Matt Lubick was named a 2024 Broyles Award nominee on Tuesday.

Established in 1996 and named after former Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles, the Broyles Award honors the top assistant coach in college football. Semifinalists for the 2024 award will be announced on December 2nd and finalists will be announced on December 9th.

In his first season at Nevada, Lubick helped significantly improve the Wolf Pack’s offense in 2024. His work as the Wolf Pack’s offensive coordinator is all the more remarkable considering that Lubick, who was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2023, has been in remission since last December and worked remotely with the Wolf Pack’s offense from spring camp until before came to the team in person at the start of fall camp in July.

Throughout the season, Lubick selflessly shared with the team, the media and the community the experience of his battle with leukemia, as well as his remission and recovery progress. Head coach Jeff Choate, quarterback Brendon Lewi and the Nevada team have frequently cited his inspiration and strength, as well as his positive influence on both them and the team.

“I feel like he plays a big role and is really the main reason why I’m able to play a little better this season because he’s just so smart and he’s been training for a long time,” Lewis said after Tuesday’s game Nevada Sports Net practice. “He has experience and has coached a lot of different guys. Just his experience and knowledge that he brings to the game, I was able to benefit from him and just get into his brain a lot. He’s a big reason why. “I could play pretty well. And also his story really motivated me to keep going no matter what happens. He’s really fighting for his life not only for myself but for the team, so it really helps a lot.”

Lubick was a key figure in Nevada’s special day for Lucas, a young Northern Nevada resident who is also battling leukemia. In early September, the Wolf Pack hosted Lucas and his family for a practice and held a special touchdown game for Lucas, who also had the opportunity to meet Coach Lubick and learn about his story.

On the field heading into this final weekend of the regular season, Nevada ranks in both red zone offense (91.7 percent success rate, 15th in the FBS) and third-down conversion rate (46.5, 18th). . in the FBS) in the national top 20 this season. A year after scoring on just 80 percent of its 35 total red zone trips for just 16 touchdowns, Nevada ranks 15th nationally in red zone efficiency in 2024, converting 33 of 36 trips for 28 touchdowns.

After finishing last in the Mountain West in third-down efficiency in 2023, the Wolfpack now ranks 18th nationally with a conversion rate of 46.5, which directly translates to their time of possession of 30:53.

Other offensive categories in which the Wolf Pack has improved significantly under Lubick include scoring and overall offense. Nevada ranked last in the Mountain West in both categories a season ago, and in 2024 the offense has improved to seventh and sixth in the conference, respectively.

On the ground, the Wolf Pack has already surpassed its 2023 rushing total. Through 12 games, Nevada has rushed for 2,058 yards at a clip of 4.7 yards per carry, a drastic difference from the 2023 numbers when 1,498 yards were gained at 3.4 yards per attempt in 12 contests. Lewis (745 rushing yards) and running back Savion Red (683) rank seventh and ninth in the Mountain West in rushing, respectively, making Nevada one of only two schools with two players in the conference’s top 10.

Lewis has thrived in Lubick’s offense and is in the midst of his career season. On the year, Lewis was involved in 22 touchdowns (14 passing, eight rushing), more than half of the Wolf Pack team’s 39 total touchdowns, while completing 66.9 percent of his passes for 1,998 yards with 745 rushing yards. Among Mountain West quarterbacks, Lewis ranks second in rushing yards and completion percentage, as well as third in total offense (2,743 yards) and fourth in total offense per game (249.36 ypg).

“Coach Lubick always brings a lot of gems, usually on Fridays and stuff,” Nevada offensive lineman Isaiah World told Nevada Sports Net after practice on Tuesday. “He always lets us know how to find the right attitude, and that is the attitude of gratitude. He calls it the attitude of gratitude, and we do it every time we come together as one. We’re talking about just being grateful for the position you’re in.

Nevada plays its 2024 finale this Saturday, traveling to Las Vegas to face UNLV in the battle for the Fremont Cannon. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.