Alabama coach Nick Saban has been named a finalist for the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award, the American Heart Association announced Wednesday.
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin), P.J. Fleck (Western Michigan), James Franklin (Penn State), Clay Helton (USC), Dana Holgorsen (West Virginia), Mike MacIntyre (Colorado), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) and Dabo Swinney (Clemson) are the other finalists.
Under Saban this season, Alabama has gone 13-0, won a third straight SEC championship and reached the College Football Playoff for the third consecutive year.
The award, named after legendary Crimson Tide coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, has been given annually since 1986 to the college football coach of the year.