Air Force football coach Troy Calhoun is among 26 FBS coaches named to the American Heart Association’s 2023 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list.
The award is given each January to a college football coach for contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life – both on and off the field.
Calhoun has the Falcons off to a 6-0 start to the season, including a 4-0 mark in Mountain West play. Air Force, which moved into the national rankings at No. 22 in both the Associated Press and AFCA polls this week, visits Navy on Saturday in its first bid at retaining the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.
The American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives for all, and the Bryant family present this award annually to celebrate Bear Bryant’s legacy and raise awareness and critical funds for scientific research to eliminate needless suffering and death from cardiovascular disease and stroke, the leading causes of death globally. The football coaching legend died from a heart attack in 1983.
Now in its 38th year, the Coach of the Year award winner will be announced live from Houston’s Post Oak Hotel on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, during an awards ceremony presented by Marathon Oil. The watch list, finalists and Coach of the Year recipient are voted on by the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards’ Executive Leadership Team and the Bryant Family.
