The Conference USA currently gives seven individual football awards at the conclusion of every season. The seven awards are Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Special Teams Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coach of the Year. Recipients are selected by the votes of the conference's head coaches.[1]
Player of the Year
Winners
Winners by school
| School (Seasons)
|
Winners
|
Years
|
| Western Kentucky (2014–present)
|
3
|
2014, 2015, 2021
|
| East Carolina (1997–2014)
|
2
|
2010, 2013
|
| Houston (1996–2013)
|
2
|
2009, 2011
|
| Jacksonville State (2023–present)
|
2
|
2024, 2025
|
| Marshall (2005–2022)
|
2
|
2012, 2019
|
| Florida Atlantic (2013–2023)
|
1
|
2017
|
| Liberty (2023–present)
|
1
|
2023
|
| Louisiana Tech (2013–present)
|
1
|
2016
|
| Middle Tennessee State (2013–present)
|
1
|
2018
|
| North Texas (2013–2023)
|
1
|
2020
|
| Rice (2005–2023)
|
1
|
2008
|
| UTSA (2013–2023)
|
1
|
2022
|
Offensive Player of the Year
The Offensive Player of the Year is awarded to the player voted most outstanding at an offensive position.
Winners
Winners by school
| School (Seasons)
|
Winners
|
Years
|
| Louisville (1996–2005)
|
6
|
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004
|
| Houston (1996–2013)
|
4
|
1996, 2006, 2008, 2011
|
| Memphis (1996–2013)
|
3
|
2003, 2004, 2005
|
| Louisiana Tech (2013–present)
|
2
|
2016, 2019
|
| Marshall (2005–2022)
|
2
|
2013, 2014
|
| North Texas (2013–2023)
|
2
|
2017, 2018
|
| Tulsa (2005–2014)
|
2
|
2007, 2010
|
| UAB (1999–2015, 2017–2023)
|
2
|
2009, 2022
|
| UTSA (2013–2023)
|
2
|
2020, 2021
|
| FIU (2013–present)
|
1
|
2025
|
| New Mexico State (2023–present)
|
1
|
2023
|
| SMU (2005–2013)
|
1
|
2012
|
| Southern Miss (1996–2022)
|
1
|
2015
|
| Tulane (1996–2014)
|
1
|
1997
|
| Western Kentucky (2014–present)
|
1
|
2024
|
Defensive Player of the Year
The Defensive Player of the Year is awarded to the player voted most outstanding at a defensive position.
Winners
Winners by school
| School (Seasons)
|
Winners
|
Years
|
| Southern Miss (1996–2022)
|
8
|
1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007
|
| Marshall (2005–2022)
|
5
|
2006, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2020
|
| UCF (2005–2013)
|
3
|
2009, 2010, 2012
|
| Houston (1996–2013)
|
2
|
2000, 2008
|
| Louisiana Tech (2013–present)
|
2
|
2018, 2025
|
| Louisville (1996–2005)
|
2
|
1996, 2001
|
| Tulsa (2005–2014)
|
2
|
2006, 2013
|
| Western Kentucky (2014–present)
|
2
|
2019, 2021
|
| FIU (2013–present)
|
1
|
2024
|
| Florida Atlantic (2013–2023)
|
1
|
2016
|
| Kennesaw State (2024–present)
|
1
|
2025
|
| Liberty (2023–present)
|
1
|
2023
|
| North Texas (2013–2023)
|
1
|
2022
|
| TCU (2001–2005)
|
1
|
2002
|
| UTSA (2013–2023)
|
1
|
2017
|
Special Teams Player of the Year
The Special Teams Player of the Year award is given to the player voted best on special teams. The recipient can either be a placekicker, punter, returner, or a position known as a gunner.
Winners
Winners by school
| School (Seasons)
|
Winners
|
Years
|
| Cincinnati (1996–2005)
|
2
|
1997, 2000
|
| East Carolina (1997–2014)
|
2
|
2007, 2009
|
| Marshall (2005–2022)
|
2
|
2015, 2019
|
| Memphis (1996–2013)
|
2
|
1998, 2005
|
| Tulane (1996–2014)
|
2
|
1996, 2001
|
| UAB (1999–2015, 2017–2023)
|
2
|
1999, 2014
|
| UCF (2005–2013)
|
2
|
2008, 2012
|
| UTEP (2005–2026)
|
2
|
2006, 2022
|
| Western Kentucky (2014–present)
|
2
|
2024, 2025
|
| FIU (2013–present)
|
1
|
2021
|
| Houston (1996–2013)
|
1
|
2011
|
| Louisiana Tech (2013–present)
|
1
|
2016
|
| Louisville (1996–2005)
|
1
|
2002
|
| New Mexico State (2023–present)
|
1
|
2023
|
| North Texas (2013–2023)
|
1
|
2013
|
| Old Dominion (2014–2022)
|
1
|
2017
|
| Rice (2005–2023)
|
1
|
2018
|
| Southern Miss (1996–2022)
|
1
|
2004
|
| TCU (2001–2005)
|
1
|
2003
|
| Tulsa (2005–2014)
|
1
|
2010
|
| UTSA (2013–2023)
|
1
|
2020
|
Freshman of the Year
The Freshman of the Year award is given to the conference's best freshman.
Winners
Winners by school
| School (Seasons)
|
Winners
|
Years
|
| Houston (1996–2013)
|
6
|
1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009
|
| Marshall (2005–2022)
|
4
|
2012, 2013, 2018, 2020
|
| UTSA (2013–2023)
|
3
|
2016, 2019, 2022
|
| Cincinnati (1996–2005)
|
2
|
1999, 2001
|
| Tulane (1996–2014)
|
2
|
2000, 2013
|
| UCF (2005–2013)
|
2
|
2005, 2010
|
| Charlotte (2015–2023)
|
1
|
2021
|
| East Carolina (1997–2014)
|
1
|
2011
|
| Florida Atlantic (2013–2023)
|
1
|
2018
|
| Louisiana Tech (2013–present)
|
1
|
2023
|
| Louisville (1996–2005)
|
1
|
2004
|
| Memphis (1996–2013)
|
1
|
1999
|
| Middle Tennessee State (2013–present)
|
1
|
2015
|
| Old Dominion (2014–2022)
|
1
|
2014
|
| Sam Houston (2023–present)
|
1
|
2024
|
| SMU (2005–2013)
|
1
|
2006
|
| Southern Miss (1996–2022)
|
1
|
1998
|
| TCU (2001–2005)
|
1
|
2002
|
| UAB (1999–2015, 2017–2023)
|
1
|
2017
|
| Western Kentucky (2014–present)
|
1
|
2025
|
Newcomer of the Year
The Newcomer of the Year award is given to the conference's best transfer.
Winners
Winners by school
| School (Seasons)
|
Winners
|
Years
|
| Louisiana Tech (2013–present)
|
4
|
2014, 2015, 2017, 2020
|
| Western Kentucky (2014–present)
|
4
|
2016, 2019, 2021, 2022
|
| East Carolina (1997–2014)
|
2
|
2010, 2012
|
| Houston (1996–2013)
|
2
|
2009, 2011
|
| Jacksonville State (2023–present)
|
2
|
2024, 2025
|
| FIU (2013–present)
|
1
|
2018
|
| Florida Atlantic (2013–2023)
|
1
|
2013
|
| Liberty (2023–present)
|
1
|
2023
|
| Memphis (1996–2013)
|
1
|
2008
|
| North Texas (2013–2023)
|
1
|
2017
|
| Tulsa (2005–2014)
|
1
|
2007
|
Coach of the Year
Winners
Winners by school
| School (Seasons)
|
Winners
|
Years
|
| Houston (1996–2013)
|
4
|
1996, 2006, 2009, 2011
|
| Southern Miss (1996–2022)
|
4
|
1997, 1999, 2003, 2015
|
| Louisville (1996–2005)
|
3
|
2000, 2001, 2004
|
| Rice (2005–2023)
|
3
|
2006, 2008, 2013
|
| UCF (2005–2013)
|
3
|
2005, 2007, 2010
|
| UAB (1999–2015, 2017–2023)
|
2
|
2014, 2017
|
| UTSA (2013–2023)
|
2
|
2021, 2022
|
| Jacksonville State (2023–present)
|
1
|
2024
|
| Kennesaw State (2024–present)
|
1
|
2025
|
| Liberty (2023–present)
|
1
|
2023
|
| Louisiana Tech (2013–present)
|
1
|
2016
|
| Marshall (2005–2022)
|
1
|
2020
|
| Middle Tennessee State (2013–present)
|
1
|
2018
|
| New Mexico State (2023–present)
|
1
|
2023
|
| TCU (2001–2005)
|
1
|
2002
|
| Tulane (1996–2014)
|
1
|
1998
|
| Tulsa (2005–2014)
|
1
|
2012
|
| Western Kentucky (2014–present)
|
1
|
2019
|
References
|
|---|
| Current teams | |
|---|
| Championships & awards | |
|---|
| Seasons | |
|---|
|
|---|
|
| Player of the year | |
|---|
| Positional awards | |
|---|
| Other national awards | |
|---|
| All-Americans | |
|---|
| Head coaching awards | |
|---|
| Assistant coaching awards | |
|---|
| Conference awards | |
|---|
| FCS awards | |
|---|
| Other divisions / associations | |
|---|
Academic, inspirational,
and versatility awards | |
|---|
| Service awards | |
|---|
| Regional awards | |
|---|
| Awards organizations | |
|---|
| Defunct awards | |
|---|