Paul "Bear" Bryant Award

The Paul 'Bear' Bryant Award is an award that has been given annually since 1986 to NCAA college football's national coach of the year. The Award was named in honor of longtime Alabama coach Bear Bryant after he died of a heart attack in 1983. It is voted on by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, and proceeds from the awards ceremony benefit the American Heart Association. The College Football Coach of the Year Award began in 1957 and was renamed for Bryant in 1986. Bryant himself won the earlier award in 1961, 1971, and 1973.

According to the official website: The Paul "Bear" Bryant College Football Coaching Awards is an exclusive event that honors a college football coach whose great accomplishments, both on and off the field, are legendary. The award recognizes the masters of coaching and allows them to take their deserved place in history beside other legends like Bear Bryant.

Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award 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 – Bobby Bowden

2011 – Hayden Fry