Gus Malzahn Wins Bear Bryant Award

After a turnaround season with Auburn, Gus Malzahn received the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year. Per ESPN...

quote:

---

HOUSTON -- Gus Malzahn knows all about Bear Bryant, so this award meant a whole lot to the Auburn coach.

Malzahn is the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year after leading a remarkable turnaround in his first season in charge of the Tigers, who went to the national title game a year after they went 3-9.

Malzahn, who like Bryant is from Arkansas, said Wednesday night that he was honored to be associated with an award named for the fabled former Alabama coach.

"When you're growing up, he's the man," Malzahn said. "The fact that I'm from the state of Arkansas and he's from Fordyce, Arkansas, and one of my best friends is coaching high school there makes it even that much more special."

---

Malzahn beat out Michigan State's Mark Dantonio, Baylor's Art Briles, Stanford's David Shaw, and Rice's David Bailiff for the honor.

Complete Story