Kennesaw State University's Jerry Mack has been named the recipient of the American Heart Association's 2025 Paul "Bear" Bryant Newcomer Coach of the Year Award. The award recognizes individuals without previous head coaching experience at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Mack will be honored during the 40th Annual Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards ceremony presented by Memorial Hermann Health System on January 21, 2026, at Houston's Post Oak Hotel, with the event broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
In his first season leading the Kennesaw State program, Mack achieved what may be the most significant turnaround in college football this season. He transformed a team that finished 2-10 in its inaugural FBS season to a 10-4 record and Conference USA championship. This eight-game improvement represents the seventh-largest year-over-year turnaround in college football history. The Owls' ten-win season marks only the fourth instance of a team winning ten or more games during its second year of FBS reclassification, joining Sam Houston State University in 2024, Appalachian State University in 2015, and Marshall University in 2017.
During their historic campaign, Kennesaw State defeated five programs with .500 records or better and concluded the regular season receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today top 25 polls. The team recently completed its 2025 season with a matchup against Western Michigan in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. For his on-field success, Mack was also honored as the Conference USA Coach of the Year.
The Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards are presented annually by the American Heart Association to celebrate coaching excellence, honor the legacy of coach Bryant, and raise awareness and critical funds for the organization's mission. Coach Bryant died from a heart attack in 1983, twenty-eight days after his final victory and retirement. The Newcomer Coach of the Year recipient is selected through voting by members of the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant Family.
This year's ceremony will also recognize Phillip Fulmer, legendary former head coach of the University of Tennessee, with the 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award. The late Mike Leach, innovator of the Air Raid offense and former head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State universities, will be honored posthumously with the 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Heart of a Champion Award presented by St. Luke's Health. Fans can follow the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards at https://facebook.com/bryantawards, https://x.com/bryantawards, or by using the hashtag #BryantAwards. Information about the event is available at https://bryantawards.org.
The American Heart Association presents these awards as part of its mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. The organization funds groundbreaking research, advocates for public health, and provides critical resources to address cardiovascular disease and stroke. The intersection of sports achievement and health awareness through these awards creates a platform that extends beyond athletic recognition to promote vital health initiatives.
