The American Heart Association has announced the eight finalists for the 2025 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award, now in its 40th year. The award honors college football coaches who demonstrate grit, integrity, and a winning approach to coaching and life, both on and off the field. It is the only college football coaching honor given after the national champion has been determined.
The finalists were selected by members of the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards’ Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant Family. Five of the finalists were also named Bear Bryant conference coaches of the year for their respective conferences.
The 2025 finalists are (in alphabetical order by last name): Curt Cignetti of Indiana University (Bear Bryant Big 10 Conference Coach of the Year), Bob Chesney of James Madison University (Bear Bryant Group of 6 Conference Coach of the Year), Mario Cristobal of the University of Miami, Mike Elko of Texas A&M University, Tony Elliott of the University of Virginia (Bear Bryant Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year), Dan Lanning of the University of Oregon, Clark Lea of Vanderbilt University (Bear Bryant Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year), and Joey McGuire of Texas Tech University (Bear Bryant Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year).
The award will be presented live from the Post Oak Hotel in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, during a ceremony hosted by Memorial Hermann Health System. The event will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network at 12:30 a.m. CST on January 22. This year’s gala will also feature special honors: Phillip Fulmer, former head coach of the University of Tennessee, will receive the 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award, and the late Mike Leach, innovator of the Air Raid offense, will be honored posthumously with the 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Heart of a Champion Award presented by St. Luke’s Health.
The Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award is presented by the American Heart Association to celebrate coaching excellence, honor Coach Bryant’s legacy, and raise funds for its mission to fight heart disease and stroke. Coach Bryant died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement. For more information, visit bryantawards.org.
