The American Heart Association has released the 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list, naming 28 current college football coaches under consideration for the annual honor. The award, given each January, recognizes a coach whose contributions better the sport for athletes and fans through grit, integrity and a winning approach on and off the field. It remains the only college football coaching honor presented after the National Champion has been determined.
The watch list spans every major conference and independent ranks, from Kirby Smart of Georgia and Kalen DeBoer of Alabama to Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame and Willie Fritz of Houston. The full group, listed alphabetically, also includes David Braun, Troy Calhoun, Bob Chesney, Curt Cignetti, Mario Cristobal, Spencer Danielson, Ryan Day, Jake Dickert, Eli Drinkwitz, Jason Eck, Kirk Ferentz, Pete Golding, Josh Heupel, Charles Huff, Rhett Lashlee, Joey McGuire, Eric Morris, Billy Napier, Tim Polasek, Lincoln Riley, Steve Sarkisian, Morgan Scalley, Kalani Sitake and Will Stein. The list and finalists are voted on by the National Sports Media Association and the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Executive Leadership Team, which includes members of the Bryant family and community leaders.
The announcement matters beyond the playing field. The awards exist to celebrate coaching excellence, honor the legacy of Paul "Bear" Bryant and raise critical funds and awareness for the American Heart Association's mission. Bryant died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement, a fact that ties the football honor directly to cardiovascular health advocacy. Since its inception, the awards have united the football community behind the Association's lifesaving work, and fans can learn more about the organization's efforts at heart.org and stroke.org.
In addition to the national Coach of the Year, the program will present Conference Coach of the Year Awards from each Power Four league—the Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12 and Southeastern conferences—plus one from the combined Group of Six conferences and independent teams. The national honor is one of five awards presented annually at the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Ceremony, presented by Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston. The 41st ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, January 27, 2027, and will air on CBS Sports Network. Bruce Arians, a Super Bowl-winning NFL and college head coach, has been selected as the Heart of a Champion Award winner, while two-time NCAA national championship coach Jackie Sherrill will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Fan Favorite and Newcomer Coach of the Year honors will be announced live at the event.
The watch list also serves as a fundraising vehicle for the Association, which has been a leading source of health information for more than a century and is supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally. The Bryant Awards campaign directs attention and resources toward cardiovascular research and prevention at a time when heart disease and stroke remain leading causes of death. Additional details about the awards are available at bryantawards.org, and the original release can be viewed via www.newmediawire.com.
