HOUSTON – Mike Norvell named 2023 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year
American Heart Association annual award honors top college football coach and raises lifesaving funds and awareness of heart disease and stroke
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HOUSTON, January 10, 2024 – Mike Norvell, head coach at Florida State University, was named college football Coach of the Year at the American Heart Association’s Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards, presented by Marathon Oil. The 38th annual awards program benefits the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives for all.
In his fourth season as the head coach at Florida State, Norvell led the Seminoles to a 13-1 overall record and an 8-0 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Norvell was previously honored as the ACC Coach of the Year and was the 2023 Dodd Trophy recipient. The Seminoles finished the 2023 season at No. 6 in both the USA Today and Associated Press Top 25 polls, sharing the No. 6 spot with Oregon in the AP poll.
“I want to start off and say how appreciative I am for this opportunity,” said Norvell. “Coach Bryant set a standard of excellence and our team pursued that every day – not only on the field but off the field, winning 13 games and having the best semester team GPA in program history. They were champions on the field and were absolutely champions off it, and I’m grateful for them.”
“I would like to thank Florida State University, the wonderful administration we have, and everyone who has invested into our program. I’d also like to thank the American Heart Association for the impact you make. Keep changing lives, keep making a difference. What a special night.” Held in Houston, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award annually recognizes the country’s top college football coach for their contributions both on and off the field, as well as efforts to make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life. The Coach of the Year award is voted on by the National Sports Media Association, current NCAA College football coaches, former Coach of the Year Award winners, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards’ Executive Leadership Team and the Bryant family.
In 1983, football coaching legend, Paul “Bear” Bryant, died from a heart attack. Moved to amplify and drive education surrounding heart disease after his passing, the Bryant family teamed up with the American Heart Association in 1986, building on the Association’s Coach of the Year Award to create the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards program. Each year since then, the awards have celebrated “Bear’s” legacy by recognizing coaching excellence while raising critical funds for research to eradicate cardiovascular disease.
“Just as coach Bryant inspired countless lives and careers, the work of the American Heart Association inspires many,” said Doug Lawson, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of St. Luke’s Health; Senior Vice President of Operations, Texas Division at Common Spirit Health, and 2024 Bryant Awards Chair. “Coaches, congratulations on a great season. We appreciate your being a part of this event and the impact you make on and off the field.”
In addition to the Coach of the Year, the winner of this year’s Fan Vote Favorite, presented by Accenture, Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Memorial Hermann, Heart of a Champion presented by St. Luke’s Health, and Newcomer Coach of the Year were all awarded.
Fans were able to participate in the awards with the fourth annual Coach of the Year Fan Vote, sponsored by Accenture. Starting in August 2023, fans cast votes for their favorite coach online at bryantawards.org/fan-vote/. In a hard-fought battle, Mike Norvell of Florida State University won the Fan Vote.
Marathon Oil Corporation, an independent exploration and production company based in Houston, has served as the presenting sponsor of the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards for more than a decade, underscoring the company’s commitment to health and wellness and supporting initiatives that promote the well-being of workers and their families in the communities where they operate.
“Marathon Oil is proud to be the presenting sponsor of tonight’s ceremony,” said Lee Tillman, Marathon Oil Chairman, President, and CEO. “As we honor Coach Bryant’s legacy, we’re not only recognizing distinction and merit but are also raising lifesaving funds for the American Heart Association, which serves as a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.”