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 coaching honor. The award recognizes coaches who demonstrate grit, integrity, and a winning approach both on and off the field, contributing to the betterment of college football for athletes and fans alike.

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 athletic achievement and heart health creates a powerful platform for cardiovascular disease education and prevention efforts.

The 2025 watch list includes coaches from across the collegiate football landscape, representing multiple conferences and programs. Among the notable names are Bret Bielema of the University of Illinois, Ryan Day from The Ohio State University, Kalen DeBoer of the University of Alabama, Kirby Smart from the University of Georgia, and Lincoln Riley of USC. The complete watch list features coaches from the Big Ten Conference, Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 Conference, and various Group of Five conferences.

The Coach of the Year winner will be announced during the annual Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Awards ceremony on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in Houston, Texas. The ceremony, presented by Memorial Hermann Health System, will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network, providing national exposure for both the coaching achievements and the American Heart Association's mission. Selection of the watch list, finalists, and ultimate recipient involves voting by the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant Family.

Beyond the main Coach of the Year honor, the Bryant Awards will also recognize Conference Coach of the Year winners from each of the Power Four conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC) along with one winner representing the combined Group of Five conferences, the Pac-12, and Independent teams. Additional honors include Phillip Fulmer of the University of Tennessee receiving 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 significance of this announcement extends beyond college football recognition. By linking coaching excellence with heart health awareness, the American Heart Association leverages the popularity of college football to reach millions of fans with critical cardiovascular health information. The timing is particularly relevant as heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and the association continues its mission as a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere. Fans can track progress of the awards at https://www.facebook.com/bryantawards or https://www.twitter.com/bryantawards, while additional information is available at https://bryantawards.org.