DAPHNE, Ala. – BCS National Champion football coach Gene Chizik, of Auburn, was at the United States Sports Academy Monday to accept the Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award. The award goes to an individual who has experienced outstanding achievement as coach and who exhibits a high standard of propriety, imagination, and innovation as a character-builder in the tradition of great teacher-coaches, according to the Academy.

Chizik, who in his second season as Auburn’s head football coach guided his team to a perfect 14-0 record, winning the BCS National Championship, also accepted a Key to the City on behalf of Mayor Fred Small and a driftwood and brass “war eagle” sculpture by Fairhope artist Bruce Larsen.

“This is a phenomenal honor for me,” Chizik said. “I’ve been very blessed these past few months to be a part of this very special group, but at the end of the day it’s really about a whole lot of people.”

Chizik thanked the Academy and touted Daphne area as being fertile recruiting ground that was very supportive of Auburn. With the start of NCAA football season just three weeks away, Chizik said excitement was building, but he was giving the team the day off to prepare for school. “Yesterday we had a fan day and it was an incredible turnout.”

City Councilman Ron Scott presented the Key to the City to Chizik. Previous recipients of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award represent several sports and leagues and include John Wooden in 1986, Joe Paterno in 1989 and 2001, Tony Dungy in 2007, Mike Krzyzewski in 2008 and Phil Jackson in 2002 and 2009. Alabama coach Nick Saban won the award last year.