Miami head coach Mario Cristobal was named Wednesday to the 2025 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list, which recognizes 28 FBS head coaches for leadership, integrity and on-field results as part of the American Heart Association's annual awards program. The Coach of the Year will be announced Jan. 21, 2026, at a ceremony in Houston televised by CBS Sports Network.
From @CanesFootball, @coach_cristobal pic.twitter.com/VthyDxy8Qb
— Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards (@bryantawards) October 15, 2025
The Bear Bryant Awards and AHA formally unveiled the 28-coach watch list on Oct. 15, noting the honor's mission to celebrate coaches whose programs "demonstrate grit, integrity and a winning approach" while the event raises awareness and funds for heart and brain health.
Cristobal's inclusion arrives with Miami ranked No. 2 and off to a 5–0 start, the program's best national standing since 2017. The Hurricanes have beaten three ranked teams to date — then-No. 6 Notre Dame (27–24), then-No. 18 South Florida (49–12) and then-No. 18 Florida State (28–22) — while also handling Florida 26–7. Through five games Miami has outscored opponents 175–68, for a plus-107.
Miami will seek to strengthen Cristobal's candidacy over the season's back half. The Hurricanes host Louisville on Friday (7 p.m. ET) before an ACC run that includes Stanford, SMU, Syracuse and NC State, then closes with trips to Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh. Maintaining a path toward Charlotte and the College Football Playoff would keep Cristobal squarely in the Coach of the Year conversation.
2025 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Watch List
- Bret Bielema — Illinois (Big Ten)
- Curt Cignetti — Indiana (Big Ten)
- Mario Cristobal — Miami (ACC)
- Ryan Day — Ohio State (Big Ten)
- Kalen DeBoer — Alabama (SEC)
- Eliah Drinkwitz — Missouri (SEC)
- Tony Elliott — Virginia (ACC)
- Mike Elko — Texas A&M (SEC)
- Matt Entz — Fresno State (Mountain West)
- Willie Fritz — Houston (Big 12)
- Alex Golesh — South Florida (American)
- Josh Heupel — Tennessee (SEC)
- Brian Kelly — LSU (SEC)
- Brent Key — Georgia Tech (ACC)
- Lane Kiffin — Ole Miss (SEC)
- Dan Lanning — Oregon (Big Ten)
- Clark Lea — Vanderbilt (SEC)
- Joey McGuire — Texas Tech (Big 12)
- Dan Mullen — UNLV (Mountain West)
- Brian Newberry — Navy (American)
- Lincoln Riley — USC (Big Ten)
- Scott Satterfield — Cincinnati (Big 12)
- Ryan Silverfield — Memphis (American)
- Kalani Sitake — BYU (Big 12)
- Kirby Smart — Georgia (SEC)
- Jon Sumrall — Tulane (American)
- Brent Venables — Oklahoma (SEC)
- Kyle Whittingham — Utah (Big 12)