HOUSTON – University of Houston head football coach Tom Herman was named one of the finalists for the 2015 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award.
The American Heart Association (AHA) and title sponsor Marathon Oil Corporation announced the finalists for the award based on the following coaches’ performance on and off the field this season.
The finalists for the coveted award also include: Larry Fedora (North Carolina), Kirk Ferentz (Iowa), Ken Niumatalolo (Navy), Nick Saban (Alabama), David Shaw (Stanford) and Dabo Swinney (Clemson).
In his first season as a head coach, Herman guided the Cougars to a 12-1 finish that included winning the American Athletic Conference title game.
As finalists, these coaches join an elite group of men recognized for their outstanding leadership in the
college football arena. Finalists will attend the 30th anniversary awards banquet on Jan. 13, 2016, at the
Hilton Americas Houston, where the winner will be announced live.
The American Heart Association’s Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award is the only college coaching honor determined after all bowl games are concluded and is voted on by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA).
The 2014 winner was Gary Patterson of TCU.
Mack Brown, former longtime University of Texas at Austin head football coach, will be the recipient
of the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award. Among the past recipients of the Lifetime Achievement
Award are Jimmy Johnson (2015), R.C. Slocum (2014),LaVell Edwards (2013) and Hayden Fry (2012).