Curt Cignetti, head coach at Indiana University, was named national college football Coach of the Year at the American Heart Association's Paul 'Bear' Bryant Awards, presented by Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System. The award recognizes the country's top college football coach for positive contributions both on and off the field, as well as efforts to make the sport better for athletes and fans by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life.
This honor carries significance beyond athletic achievement, as it directly supports the American Heart Association's mission to eradicate cardiovascular disease. The Bryant family partnered with the Association in 1986 after football legend Paul 'Bear' Bryant died from a heart attack in 1983, creating an awards program that celebrates coaching excellence while raising critical funds for research. Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, emphasized this connection, stating that the award upholds coach Bryant's legacy by celebrating exceptional leadership and excellence while strengthening the Association's mission so everyone can live a long and healthy life.
Cignetti's recognition follows one of the most dramatic program turnarounds in college football history. In his second season at Indiana, he led the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record and the program's first national title, capped by a championship victory over Miami. The team was led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was named Most Outstanding Player in the championship game. Cignetti acknowledged the team nature of the honor, thanking seniors for their outstanding leadership and emphasizing that successful organizations require the right people from top to bottom.
The Coach of the Year award is voted on by the National Sports Media Association, current NCAA college football coaches, former Coach of the Year Award winners, the Paul 'Bear' Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team and the Bryant family. This award is the only college football coaching honor given after the National Champion has been determined, adding to its prestige within the sport. Rodney Reed, American Heart Association volunteer and 2026 Bryant Awards Chair, noted that Cignetti exemplifies the excellence, leadership and character the award represents.
Beyond Cignetti's recognition, the awards ceremony also honored other coaching legends. Phillip Fulmer, former head coach of the University of Tennessee, received the 2026 Paul 'Bear' Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award, while the late Mike Leach, innovator of the Air Raid offense and former head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State universities, was honored posthumously with the 2026 Paul 'Bear' Bryant Heart of a Champion Award presented by St. Luke's Health. Fans participated through the sixth annual Coach of the Year Fan Vote sponsored by Accenture, with Bob Chesney of James Madison University repeating as the winner after fans cast votes online at https://bryantawards.org/fan-vote starting in August 2025.
The broader impact of these awards extends to public health awareness and research funding. Each year, the awards celebrate Bear Bryant's legacy while raising funds for cardiovascular disease research through the American Heart Association. For those interested in learning more about the awards' history and future events, additional information is available at https://bryantawards.org. The Paul 'Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year Award ceremony presented by Memorial Hermann Health System was broadcast on CBS Sports Network, with event recaps and behind-the-scenes details accessible through the awards' social media channels.
