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

The American Heart Association has unveiled the 2025 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list, featuring twenty-eight college football coaches currently in consideration for the annual top coaching honor. The award recognizes coaches who demonstrate grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life both on and off the field, with the winner being selected for contributions that improve the sport for athletes and fans alike. This prestigious award holds special significance as it honors the legacy of coaching legend Paul "Bear" Bryant, who died from a heart attack in 1983 just twenty-eight days after his final victory and retirement.

Now celebrating its fortieth anniversary, the Coach of the Year award 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, bringing national attention to both coaching excellence and heart health awareness. The watch list, finalists and ultimate Coach of the Year recipient are determined through voting by the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team and the Bryant Family, ensuring a comprehensive selection process.

The 2025 watch list includes coaches from across the collegiate football landscape, featuring Bret Bielema from the University of Illinois, Ryan Day from The Ohio State University, Kalen DeBoer from the University of Alabama, Kirby Smart from the University of Georgia and Lincoln Riley from USC among others. The list represents coaches from various conferences including the Big Ten, Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 and multiple Group of Five conferences. In addition to the main Coach of the Year honor, the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards will present Conference Coach of the Year Awards from each of the Power Four collegiate athletic conferences and one from the combined Group of Five conferences.

The awards ceremony serves multiple purposes beyond recognizing coaching excellence, functioning as a significant fundraiser for the American Heart Association's mission to combat cardiovascular disease. The organization, described as a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, uses the event to raise awareness and critical funds for its cardiovascular health initiatives. Additional honors to be presented include the Lifetime Achievement Award to Phillip Fulmer of the University of Tennessee and the Heart of a Champion Award, presented by Houston-based St. Luke's Health, which will be announced next week. Fans can follow the awards progress through various social media platforms and the official website at https://bryantawards.org.