They are still recognizing the winningest football season in University of Virginia history.
On Wednesday, UVA head football coach Tony Elliott was named one of eight finalists for the American Heart Association’s 2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year Award. The winner will be announced Jan. 21 in Houston.
Elliott, named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year last month, led the Wahoos to their first 11-win season in program history, culminating with a TaxSlayer Gator Bowl championship over the University of Missouri on Dec. 27 in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Cavaliers, picked in a preseason media poll to finish 14th in the 17-team conference, finished the regular season with a 7-1 ACC record and played in the conference championship game for the first time in six years. Currently ranked 20th in the Associated Press poll, UVA is assured of a finish among the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2019.
Elliott’s competition for the Bryant Award – an honor named after the legendary former University of Alabama coach – includes Indiana University’s Curt Cignetti, James Madison University’s Bob Chesney and the University of Miami’s Mario Cristobal.
Through its association with the American Heart Association, the Bryant Award raises awareness and critical funds for scientific research to eliminate needless suffering and death from cardiovascular disease and stroke. Paul “Bear” Bryant died from a heart attack in 1983.
Pennsylvania State University’s Joe Paterno won the inaugural Bryant Award in 1986.
