The American Heart Association has revealed the eight finalists for the 2025 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award, marking the 40th anniversary of this prestigious college football coaching honor. The award is unique as it is the only major college football coaching award presented after the national champion has been determined, allowing voters to consider a coach's complete season performance. Finalists and the ultimate winner are selected by members of the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant Family.
This year's finalists include Curt Cignetti of Indiana University, Bob Chesney of James Madison University, Mario Cristobal of the University of Miami, Mike Elko of Texas A&M University, Tony Elliott of the University of Virginia, Dan Lanning of the University of Oregon, Clark Lea of Vanderbilt University, and Joey McGuire of Texas Tech University. Five of these coaches have already been recognized as Bear Bryant conference coaches of the year for their respective athletic conferences, highlighting their exceptional leadership during the 2025 season.
The significance of this award extends beyond football recognition. The American Heart Association presents the Bear Bryant Awards annually to celebrate coaching excellence, honor the legacy of legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, and raise awareness and critical funds for its mission. Coach Bryant died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement, making this award particularly meaningful in the context of cardiovascular health advocacy. The organization is a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, and this event serves as a major fundraising and awareness initiative.
In addition to the Coach of the Year announcement, this year's ceremony will honor two special recipients. Phillip Fulmer, the legendary former head coach of the University of Tennessee, will receive the 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award. The late Mike Leach, innovator of the Air Raid offense and former head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State universities, will be honored posthumously with the 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Heart of a Champion Award presented by St. Luke's Health, one of the largest health systems in Greater Houston.
The winner will be announced live from the Post Oak Hotel in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, during an awards ceremony presented by Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System. The event will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network at 12:30 a.m. CST on January 22nd. Fans can follow the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards and track progress of the awards at facebook.com/bryantawards, x.com/bryantawards or by following the hashtag #BryantAwards. To attend the exclusive virtual, VIP experience for the Bryant Awards, visit bryantawards.org.
