Georgia Tech’s Johnson, Schniederjans Named Atlanta Sports Awards Finalists

Release from Georgia Tech Athletics:

Georgia Tech head football coach Paul Johnson and senior golfer Ollie Schniederjans are among the finalists for the 2015 Atlanta Sports Awards announced Tuesday by the Atlanta Sports Council.

The Atlanta Sports Awards will be held at The Fox Theatre on Thursday, March 5, beginning with a silent auction and reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and the awards ceremony at 7 p.m.

Johnson is one of three finalists for Coach of the Year presented by The Home Depot. The award is given to an Atlanta high school, collegiate or professional coach who dedication and commitment to coaching excellence is fostered in the lives of his/her athletes both on and off the field.

In his seventh year at Georgia Tech, Johnson led the Yellow Jackets to an 11-3 record and a 2014 Capital One Orange Bowl win over Mississippi State. Johnson was named 2014 ACC Coach of the Year. The Jackets, who led the nation with a school-record 342.1 rushing yards per game in 2014, finished the season ranked in the top 10 for the first time since 1990.

Under Johnson, Tech’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores have risen every year.

Schneiderjans is one of three finalists for Collegiate Athlete of the Year presented by AT&T. He is joined by Georgia State men’s basketball player R.J. Hunter and Kennesaw State baseball player Max Pentecost.

The Power Springs, Ga., native ascended to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings in June 2014 on the heels of a stellar junior season in which he was named a first-team All-American, won five collegiate events and played for the U.S. team in the Palmer Cup. The reigning ACC Player of the Year and defending ACC champion leads the Yellow Jackets with a 68.20 scoring average through five tournaments this season.

“For a decade, we’ve had the honor of recognizing outstanding athletes and sports organizations across the metro Atlanta region,” said Dan Corso, executive director of the Atlanta Sports Council. “We’re thrilled to continue this incredible event, paying tribute to tremendous performances both on and off the field from our top athletes, coaches and teams. These honorees excite fans with victories and inspire them with their community service.”