Penn State’s first-year offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead has transformed the Nittany Lion attack into a thing of beauty. Now, he’s one of 40 nominees for the Broyles Award, which annually recognizes the nation’s top assistant coach from a pool of nearly 1,500.

The Broyles Award recognizes College Football’s top assistant coach.
Up for nomination: Nittany Lion Offensive Coordinator Joe Moorhead! pic.twitter.com/YICBo67jp4

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) November 24, 2016

Since taking over for the fired John Donovan following Penn State’s 24-17 loss to Georgia in the Taxslayer Bowl, Moorhead has orchestrated a lightning-quick, uber-efficient offense. Heading into the regular-season finale against Michigan State, the Nittany Lions are averaging 35.8 points per game — a 54-percent increase from last season’s 23.2 clip. Penn State’s 4,693 yards of total offense has already surpassed 2015 (4,529) with at least two games left on the schedule.

Fellow Big Ten coaches nominated for the Broyles Award include: Indiana DC Tom Allen, Michigan DC/LBs coach Don Brown, Nebraska linebackers coach Trent Bray, Ohio State special teams coordinator/cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs, and Wisconsin DC/LBs coach Justin Wilcox. Some of the notable past winners since 1996 are Tom Herman (2014), Pat Narduzzi (2013), and Kirby Smart (2009).

Five finalists will be selected ahead of a Tuesday, Dec. 6 ceremony in Little Rock, Ark. Penn State has never had an assistant coach tabbed as a finalist, but former defensive coordinator Bob Shoop was nominated in 2014.