Mike Gundy Named to Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant Award Watch List

Mike Gundy’s team is off to its best start in three years, and people are taking notice.

After Oklahoma State’s 5-1 start, and on the precipice of his 200th career game this coming Saturday, Gundy was one of 24 head coaches named to the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award watch list.

The honor is given each year to college football’s Coach of the Year by the American Heart Association. The award dates back to 1986 and is the only such award that is given out after all postseason bowls and championships are decided. Gundy previoulys won the Bear Bryant Award in 2011.

The winner will be announced Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 in a virtual awards ceremony.

Gundy’s Bedlam counterpart Lincoln Riley also made the list, along with fellow Big 12 coaches Tom Herman (Texas) and Matt Campbell (Iowa State).

Gundy joins Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, Auburn’s Gus Malzahn and Alabama’s Nick Saban as watch list members who have previously won the award.

Here’s the complete watch list.

Tom Allen, Indiana University
Matt Campbell, Iowa State University
Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina University
Paul Chryst, University of Wisconsin
Mario Cristobal, University of Oregon
Ryan Day, The Ohio State University 
Manny Diaz, University of Miami
Karl, Dorrell, University of Colorado
Luke Fickell, University of Cincinnati
Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M University
Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern University
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State University
Clay Helton, University of Southern California
Tom Herman, The University of Texas at Austin
Doc Holliday, Marshall University
Brian Kelly, Notre Dame University
Gus Malzahn, Auburn University
Dan Mullen, University of Florida
Jay Norvell, University of Nevada
Lincoln Riley, University of Oklahoma
Nick Saban, University of Alabama
Kalani Sitake, Brigham Young University
Kirby Smart, University of Georgia
Dabo Swinney, Clemson University