Bear Bryant Awards | National Sports Media Association

Bear Bryant Awards

The NSMA membership has the privilege of voting for the Paul "Bear" Bryant College Football Coach of the Year Award, in conjunction with the Houston (TX) chapter of the American heart Association. Voting begins after the College Football Playoff National Championship game (Monday night) and concludes at noon CT on the day of the Bryant Awards dinner (Wednesday night) two days later.

From left, NSMA board member Bob Ryan, NSMA executive director Dave Goren and 3-time Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Dabo Swinney

BEAR BRYANT COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS

2024 - Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
2023 - Mike Norvell, Florida State
2022 - Sonny Dykes, TCU
2021 - Luke Fickell, Cincinnati
2020 - Nick Saban, Alabama
2019 - Ed Orgeron, LSU
2018 - Dabo Swinney, Clemson
2017 - Scott Frost, Central Florida
2016 – Dabo Swinney, Clemson
2015 – Dabo Swinney, Clemson
2014 – Gary Patterson, TCU
2013 – Gus Malzahn, Auburn
2012 – Bill O’Brien, Penn State
2011 – Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
2010 – Gene Chizik, Auburn
2009 – Chris Petersen, Boise State
2008 – Kyle Whittingham, Utah
2007 – Mark Mangino, Kansas
2006 – Chris Petersen, Boise State
2005 – Mack Brown, Texas
2004 – Tommy Tuberville, Auburn
2003 – Nick Saban, Louisiana State
2002 – Jim Tressel, Ohio State
2001 – Larry Coker, Miami
2000 – Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
1999 – Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
1998 – Bill Snyder, Kansas State
1997 – Lloyd Carr, Michigan
1996 – Bruce Snyder, Arizona State
1995 – Gary Barnett, Northwestern
1994 – Rich Brooks, Oregon
1993 – Terry Bowden, Auburn
1992 – Gene Stallings, Alabama
1991 – Don James, Washington
1990 – Bobby Ross, Georgia Tech
1989 – Bill McCartney, Colorado
1988 – Lou Holtz , Notre Dame
1987 – Dick MacPherson, Syracuse
1986 – Joe Paterno, Penn State

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNERS

2025 - Grant Teaff, Baylor
2024 - Lloyd Carr, Michigan
2023 - Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
2022 - John Robinson
2021 - Howard Schnellenberger
2020 - Bill Snyder
2019 - Frank Beamer
2018 - Steve Spurrier
2017 – Barry Alvarez
2016 – Mack Brown
2015 – Jimmy Johnson
2014 – R.C. Slocum
2013 – LaVell Edwards
2012 – Hayden Fry
2011 – Bobby Bowden
2010 – Vince Dooley
2009 – Barry Switzer
2008 – Tom Osborne
2007 – Glenn “Bo” Schembechler
2006 – Jack Pardee
2005 – Lou Holtz
2004 – Gene Stallings
2003 – Frank Broyles
2002 – Bill Yeoman
2001 – Charles McClendon
2000 – Darrell Royal