Wake Forest's Grobe selected AP Coach of the Year for big turnaround

NEW YORK -- Jim Grobe held Wake Forest together after a couple of potentially devastating injuries, refused to let his players feel sorry for themselves and turned the perennially downtrodden Demon Deacons into champions.

For orchestrating one of the most surprising turnarounds in college football -- and the best season in Wake Forest's 105-year football history -- Grobe was honored as The Associated Press Coach of the Year on Wednesday.

"I can't put into words how satisfying it's been," Grobe said in a recent phone interview. "It's just now that we're starting to appreciate what we've done and to enjoy it a little bit."

In his sixth season at Wake Forest, Grobe took the Demon Deacons (11-2) from worst to first in the Atlantic Coast Conference without their starting quarterback and top tailback. Wake Forest set a school record for victories and won the ACC for the first time in 36 years.

"This is one football team that appreciates the opportunity to go to a bowl game and especially appreciates the opportunity to play in the Orange Bowl," Grobe said.

The 54-year-old Grobe received 39 of 65 votes from the AP Top 25 voters.

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, who took the once-laughable Scarlet Knights within a victory of the Bowl Championship Series, finished second with 12 votes.

-- AP