Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian has been named to the watch list for the Coach of the Year award

AUSTIN – Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has been named to the watch list for the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award.

The Bryant Awards were created to recognize coaching excellence across college football while raising funds for the American Heart Association. The award is named after Bear Bryant, who coached the Alabama Crimson Tide from 1958 to 1982 and is still considered one of the greatest coaches in college football history.

Sarkisian is among 27 coaches on the watch list, including seven from the Southeastern Conference.

Texas’ upcoming opponent, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, was also added to the list, as was the Longhorns’ final non-conference opponent, ULM’s Bryant Vincent. Two other coaches on the Texas roster are on the watch list: Texas A&M’s Mike Elko and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea, who has led the Commodores to back-to-back conference victories.

This is the 39th year the award has been presented, and this time it will be announced live on January 22, 2025 at the Post Oak Hotel in Houston.

The 2024 watch list:

Bret Bielema – University of Illinois
Matt Campbell – Iowa State University
Jamey Chadwell – Liberty University
Curt Cignetti – Indiana University
Mario Cristobal – University of Miami
Spencer Danielson – Boise State University
Ryan Day – Ohio State University
Kalen DeBoer – University of Alabama
Kenny Dillingham – Arizona State University
Mike Elko – Texas A&M University
James Franklin-Pennsylvania State University
Marcus Freeman – University of Notre Dame
Josh Heupel – University of Tennessee
Brian Kelly – Louisiana State University
Chris Klieman – Kansas State University
Dan Lanning – University of Oregon
Rhett Lashlee – Southern Methodist University
Clark Lea-Vanderbilt University
Joey McGuire – Texas Tech University
Jeff Monken – United States Military Academy (Army)
Pat Narduzzi – University of Pittsburgh
Brian Newberry – United States Naval Academy (Navy)
Steve Sarkisian – University of Texas
Kalani Sitake – Brigham Young University
Kirby Smart – University of Georgia
Dabo Swinney – Clemson University
Bryant Vincent – ​​University of Louisiana Monroe