Danielson Tabbed Finalist for Bear Bryant Award

Courtesy of Boise State

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson has been named a finalist for the 2024 Paul “Bear” Bryant Award, the American Heart Association announced. 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, on and off the field.

In his first year as full-time head coach, Danielson led Boise State to a 12-2 record, the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff and an appearance in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. The Broncos won the Mountain West Championship for the second-straight year, the first time Boise State has captured back-to-back MW titles. He was also named AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year and MW Coach of the Year. Danielson is a finalist for the AFCA Coach of the Year.

This season, Boise State led the FBS in sacks (55) and tied for third in tackles for loss (111). The Broncos averaged 37.3 points per game, sixth-most in the nation, and 466.0 yards per game, eighth-most in the country. 

Unanimous All-American Ashton Jeanty won the Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award while finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting. Offensive tackle Kage Casey joined Jeanty on multiple All-America teams and defensive end Ahmed Hassanein is a finalist for Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year. All three players earned first team All-MW honors, as did Ben Dooley, Matt Lauter, Marco Notarainni and Jayden Virgin-Morgan.

2024 Bear Bryant Award Finalists
Spencer Danielson, Boise State
Shane Beamer, South Carolina
Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
Rhett Lashlee, SMU
Jeff Monken, Army West Point
Steve Sarkisian, Texas

The finalists and Coach of the Year recipient are voted on by members of the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards’ Executive Leadership Team and the Bryant Family. The recipient of the 39th Bear Bryant Award will be announced on Jan. 22, during an awards ceremony in Houston. The event will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

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