HOUSTON – Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has been voted Coordinator of the Year by the Sporting News, the sports publication announced Friday.
Phillips received 15 out 32 votes, made up of NFL coaches and executives.
His closest competition was Vic Fango, who led a 49ers defense that ranked first in the league in most major categories. Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano was third with four votes. Pagano was named head coach of the Colts earlier this week.
But nobody made as big a difference as Phillips. Switching to a 3-4, he helped the Texans' defense improve from 30th in points allowed in 2010 to second in 2011.
The Sporting News' head coach award went to the 49ers' Jim Harbaugh.
