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Steve Sarkisian named a Bear Bryant Award finalist

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•12/14/23•

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SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was named a finalist for the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award on Thursday, the American Heart Association announced. The Bear Bryant Award is given every January 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,” per release.

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Sarkisian was also named the Big 12 Conference coach of the year by the AHA.

Texas has two Bryant Award winners in its history. Darrell Royal won the honor in 1963, and Mack Brown was honored in 2005.

Sarkisian led the Longhorns to a 12-1 record in his third year as head coach of the Texas football program, a record that included wins over Alabama and versus Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship. The league title was the program’s first since 2009 and the fourth as a member of the Big 12. Texas will move to the SEC on July 1, 2024.

Other finalists for the award include Northwestern head coach David Braun, Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell, Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz, SMU head coach Rhett Lashell, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell, and Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

The 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.

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Fan Vote for the Bryant Award is ongoing and will close on Saturday, December 16th at 11:59 PM central time. The Fan Vote is a popular vote for fans all over the country and the winner of the Fan Vote Favorite will be announced during the televised broadcast on January 10th. Fans can vote for Coach Sarkisian here: https://bryantawards.org/college-coaches/steve-sarkisian/.

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