10-26-2009

The following is a press release from the American Heart Association and the

HOUSTON (October 26, 2009) – The Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards committee of the American Heart Association selected its Bryant Watch List for the 2009 College Football Coach of the Year. The selection committee consists of current and past event chairmen, Bryant family representatives, National Sportscasters & Sportswriters Association representatives, college football sports analysts and former collegiate players and coaches.

Football Coach of the Year finalists will be announced later in December and attend an awards dinner in Houston on Jan. 14, 2010. The winner will be announced live that evening. The winner of the Bryant College Football Coach of the Year is voted on by members of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and is the only college coaching award voted on after all bowl games are played.

January’s event will also recognize The University of Georgia’s legendary coach and athletic director, Vince Dooley as the Bryant Lifetime Achievement Recipient. This award recognizes excellence in coaching on and off the field during a career, allowing recipients to take their place in history alongside legends such as Bryant.

The Bryant Awards honor excellence in coaching while raising funds to fight heart disease and stroke, the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers. Bryant himself suffered a heart attack prior to his death in 1983. Funds raised benefit research, community education and outreach programs of the AHA. For more information, or to purchase tickets or a table for the event, contact Kristin Rodriguez at 713-610-5026 or visit www.heart.org/bryantawards

Bryant College Coach of the Year Watch List in alphabetical order by coach:

• Robb Akey – University of Idaho
• Mack Brown – University of Texas
• Pete Carroll – University of Southern California
• Kirk Ferentz – University of Iowa
• Al Golden – Temple University
• Mike Gundy – Oklahoma State University
• Paul Johnson – Georgia Institute of Technology
• Brian Kelly – University of Cincinnati
• Chip Kelly – University of Oregon
• Bronco Mendenhall – Brigham Young University
• Urban Meyer – University of Florida
• Les Miles – Louisiana State University
• Joe Paterno – Penn State University
• Gary Patterson – Texas Christian University
• Chris Petersen – Boise State University
• Nick Saban – University of Alabama
• Randy Shannon – University of Miami
• Bill Stewart – West Virginia University
• Kevin Sumlin – University of Houston
• Dave Wannstedt – University of Pittsburgh

Bryant Coach of the Year Winners
1986 Joe Paterno
1987 Dick MacPherson
1988 Lou Holtz
1989 Bill McCartney
1990 Bobby Ross
1991 Don James
1992 Gene Stallings
1993 Terry Bowden
1994 Rich Brooks
1995 Gary Barnett
1996 Bruce Snyder
1997 Lloyd Carr
1998 Bill Snyder
1999 Frank Beamer
2000 Bob Stoops
2001 Larry Coker
2002 Jim Tressel
2003 Nick Saban
2004 Tommy Tuberville
2005 Mack Brown
2006 Chris Petersen
2007 Mark Mangino
2008 Kyle Whittingham

Bryant Lifetime Achievement Winners
2000 Darrell Royal
2001 Charles McClendon
2002 Bill Yeoman
2003 Frank Broyles
2004 Gene Stallings
2005 Lou Holtz
2006 Jack Pardee
2007 “Bo” Schembechler
2008 Tom Osborne
2009 Barry Switzer
2010 Vince Dooley