HOUSTON -- ULM football first-year head coach Bryant Vincent has been named to the American Heart Association's 2024 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List, the organization revealed on Wednesday (Oct. 16) morning.

Vincent has led the Warhawks to a 5-1 start for the first time since in 37 seasons and has been at the forefront of one of the most exciting turnarounds in college football. He was one of 27 head coaches in the country to be included in the list and was the lone coach from the Sun Belt Conference included. The award, given each January to a college football coach, recognizes 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.

The American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives for all for more than 100 years, 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 39th year, the Coach of the Year award winner will be announced live from Houston's Post Oak Hotel on Wednesday, January 22, 2024, during an awards ceremony presented by Marathon Oil. The National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team and the Bryant Family voted on the watch list, finalists and Coach of the Year recipient.

The 2024 Watch List includes (in alphabetical order):
 
Atlantic Coast Conference
Mario Cristobal - University of Miami
Rhett Lashlee - Southern Methodist University
Pat Narduzzi - University of Pittsburgh
Dabo Swinney - Clemson University
 
Big Ten Conference
Bret Bielema - University of Illinois
Curt Cignetti - Indiana University
Ryan Day – Ohio State University
James Franklin – Pennsylvania State University
Dan Lanning – University of Oregon
 
Big 12 Conference
Matt Campbell - Iowa State University
Kenny Dillingham - Arizona State University
Chris Klieman - Kansas State University
Joey McGuire - Texas Tech University
Kalani Sitake - Brigham Young University
 
Group of Five Conferences, Independent & Pac-12
Jamey Chadwell – Liberty University
Spencer Danielson - Boise State University
Marcus Freeman – University of Notre Dame
Jeff Monken – United States Military Academy (Army)
Brian Newberry - United States Naval Academy (Navy)
Bryant Vincent - University of Louisiana Monroe
 
Southeastern Conference
Kalen DeBoer - University of Alabama
Mike Elko - Texas A&M University
Josh Heupel - University of Tennessee
Brian Kelly - Louisiana State University
Clark Lea - Vanderbilt University
Steve Sarkisian – University of Texas
Kirby Smart – University of Georgia


In addition to the Coach of the Year, the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards will also present Conference Coach of the Year Awards from each of the Power Four collegiate athletic conferences (Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference) and one from the combined Group of Five conferences (American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference and Sun Belt Conference), the Pac-12 and independent teams.

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