Dec. 23, 2008

TONAWANDA, N.Y. - San Diego State's new head football coach Brady Hoke has been named the No. 2 college football coaching hire of 2008, the Sporting News announced Monday.

Coach Hoke was named the 17th head coach in San Diego State football history on Dec. 16. Hoke, who is one of 10 finalists for the Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year award, led Ball State to a 12-win campaign and a No. 12 national ranking this season.

Hoke took over as Ball State's head coach in Dec. 2002, following an eight-year stint as an assistant at Michigan, including a 1997 campaign that saw the Wolverines claim the national championship and earn a No. 1 ranking in total defense. Michigan advanced to eight-straight bowl games during his tenure. Hoke ended his stay at Michigan as associate head coach in 2002. Prior to Ann Arbor, Hoke had stops as an assistant at Oregon State (1989-94), Toledo (1987-88), Western Michigan (1984-86) and Grand Valley State (1983).

Sporting News Top 10 College Football Hires of 2008
1. Steve Sarkisian, Washington (former USC offensive coordinator)
2. Brady Hoke, San Diego State (former Ball State head coach)
3. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State (former Florida offensive coordinator)
4. Lane Kiffin, Tennessee (fired Oakland Raiders head coach)
5. Tim Beckman, Toledo (former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator)
6. Dabo Swinney, Clemson (former Clemson interim coach)
7. Bill Snyder, Kansas State (out of football)
8. Gary Andersen, Utah State (former Utah defensive coordinator)
9. Stan Parrish, Ball State (former Ball State offensive coordinator)
10. Doug Marrone, Syracuse (former New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator)