Marcus Freeman named 2024 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year

American Heart Association awards honor top college football coaches while raising lifesaving funds and awareness of heart and brain health

2025-01-23

(Press-News.org) HOUSTON, January 22, 2025 — Marcus Freeman, head coach at the University of Notre Dame, was named college football Coach of the Year at the American Heart Association’s Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards, presented by Marathon Oil. The 39th annual awards program benefits the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives for all.

“We are honored to award Coach Freeman this year’s Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award, recognizing his exemplary efforts both on and off the field,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. “This signature award honors the legacy of Coach Bryant, by acknowledging his same high standard of excellence in today’s college football coaches. The collaboration between the Bryant family and the American Heart Association on both the annual awards and recruiting college football programs to join the Nation of Lifesavers™ advances our efforts for a world of longer, healthier lives. Congratulations to all of the finalists.”

The 2024 season was a historic one for the Fighting Irish, as Freeman led Notre Dame to a 14-2 overall record, wins over No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and No. 6 Penn State in the Orange Bowl, and a national runner-up finish. Those 14 wins set a new program record, and the Fighting Irish finished the season ranked No. 2 in both the AP and AFCA Top 25 polls. During his three-plus year tenure at Notre Dame, Freeman has posted a record of 33-10.

“I am humbled and honored to receive the award because of what it represents,” said Freeman. “Coach Bryant has always been the standard of college football coaches. Not only because of the six football national championships but more importantly because he was a leader on and off the field. He possessed the ability to inspire, the patience to teach, the gift of leadership. Coach Bryant often talked about a part of something bigger than himself. I am honored to be a part of Team Bryant to fight against heart disease and stroke.”

“What really makes this special is working with the young people I get the opportunity to lead,” added Freeman. “I got into coaching in January 2010 and I was diagnosed with an enlarged heart valve. My football career was over and I wanted to stay close to the game I grew up with and loved. I love football and I loved winning and I wanted to be part of helping a football team win.”

Held in Houston, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award annually recognizes the country’s top college football coach for their contributions both on and off the field, as well as efforts to make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life. The Coach of the Year award is voted on by the National Sports Media Association, current NCAA College football coaches, former Coach of the Year Award winners, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards’ Executive Leadership Team and the Bryant family. This award is the only college football coaching honor given after the National Champion has been determined.

In 1983, football coaching legend, Paul “Bear” Bryant, died from a heart attack. Moved to amplify and drive education surrounding heart disease after his passing, the Bryant family teamed up with the American Heart Association in 1986, building on the Association’s Coach of the Year Award to create the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards program. Each year since then, the awards have celebrated “Bear’s” legacy by recognizing coaching excellence while raising critical funds for research to eradicate cardiovascular disease.

“The legacy of coach Bryant and the work of the American Heart Association go hand in hand,” said American Heart Association volunteer George Lindahl III, 2025 Bryant Awards Chair. “Coach Freeman is a worthy recipient of this award. We appreciate the efforts of each of our finalists and thank them for being a part of this event and for making an impact on and off the field.”

As previously announced, Syracuse University’s Fran Brown was recognized as the Paul “Bear” Bryant Newcomer Coach of the Year, legendary former Baylor University head coach and American Football Coaches Association executive director Grant Teaff received the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Texas-based Memorial Hermann Health System, while former University of Georgia and University of Miami head coach Mark Richt was recognized as the recipient of the 2025 Heart of a Champion award, presented by St. Luke’s Health in Houston.

In addition to the Coach of the Year, the winner of this year’s Fan Vote Favorite, presented by Accenture, Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Memorial Hermann, Heart of a Champion presented by St. Luke’s Health and Newcomer Coach of the Year were all awarded.

Fans were able to participate in the awards with the fourth annual Coach of the Year Fan Vote, sponsored by Accenture. Starting in August 2024, fans cast votes for their favorite coach online at bryantawards.org/fan-vote/. Thanks to the unwavering support of his supporters, Bob Chesney of James Madison University won the Fan Vote.

Marathon Oil Corporation, an independent exploration and production company based in Houston, has served as the presenting sponsor of the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards for more than a decade, underscoring the company’s commitment to health and wellness and supporting initiatives that promote the well-being of workers and their families in the communities where they operate.

For a recap of the event and behind-the-scenes details visit facebook.com/bryantawards, or x.com/bryantawards, hashtag #BryantAwards.To learn more about the awards’ history and for 2026 event information visit bryantawards.org.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

For Media Inquiries:

Paul Smith; (940) 367-7762, paul.smith@heart.org

Steven Embree; (405) 415-3039, steven.embree@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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