American Heart Association Announces 2025 Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List

The American Heart Association has revealed the 2025 Paul 'Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list, featuring twenty-eight college football coaches from across the nation who are under consideration for one of college football's most distinguished coaching honors. The award recognizes coaches who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities both on and off the field, emphasizing grit, integrity, and a winning approach to coaching and life.

Now in its 40th year, the Bear Bryant Awards serve a dual purpose of celebrating coaching excellence while raising awareness and critical funds for the American Heart Association's mission. The award honors the legacy of coaching legend Paul 'Bear' Bryant, who died from a heart attack in 1983 just 28 days after his final victory and retirement. This connection between the award and heart health awareness makes the announcement particularly significant as it brings attention to cardiovascular disease prevention during college football season.

The 2025 watch list includes coaches from various conferences, including Bret Bielema of the University of Illinois, Ryan Day of The Ohio State University, Kalen DeBoer of the University of Alabama, Kirby Smart of the University of Georgia, and Lincoln Riley of USC. The complete list of nominees spans all major collegiate conferences and represents the diversity of coaching talent across the college football landscape.

The Coach of the Year winner will be announced on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, during the Association's annual Paul 'Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year Awards ceremony in Houston, Texas. The event, presented by Memorial Hermann Health System, will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network, providing national exposure for both the coaching achievements and the heart health message.

In addition to the main Coach of the Year honor, the Bryant Awards will present Conference Coach of the Year Awards from each of the Power Four collegiate athletic conferences (Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference) and one from the combined Group of Five conferences. The awards will also recognize Phillip Fulmer of the University of Tennessee with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while the Heart of a Champion Award, presented by Houston-based St. Luke's Health, will be announced next week.

The selection process involves voting by the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant Family, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of coaching performance and impact. Fans can follow the Paul 'Bear' Bryant Awards and track progress of the awards at facebook.com/bryantawards or twitter.com/bryantawards using the hashtag #BryantAwards.

This announcement matters because it represents the intersection of sports excellence and public health advocacy. By linking coaching achievements with heart health awareness, the American Heart Association leverages the popularity of college football to educate millions of fans about cardiovascular disease prevention. The timing is particularly relevant given that heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and sports platforms provide unique opportunities to reach diverse audiences with life-saving health information.

The implications extend beyond the football field, as the awards ceremony and associated activities raise critical funds for cardiovascular research and education programs. This partnership between sports and health organizations demonstrates how popular athletic events can serve as platforms for important public health messages, potentially influencing fan behavior and awareness around heart health issues. The continued growth and visibility of the Bear Bryant Awards ensure that Coach Bryant's legacy continues to make a positive impact on both college football and public health initiatives nationwide.