Syracuse University’s Fran Brown named Paul “Bear” Bryant Newcomer Coach of the Year Award recipient

American Heart Association awards honor top college football coaches while raising lifesaving funds and awareness of heart and brain health

HOUSTON, January 15, 2025 -The American Heart Association has named Syracuse University's Fran Brown as the recipient of the 2024 Paul "Bear" Bryant Newcomer Coach of the Year Award. This award celebrates the achievements of an individual who has not had any previous head coaching experience at the NCAA Division I football sub-division (FBS) level.

Coach Brown will be recognized with the honor during the 2025 Bear Bryant Awards on January 22.

After being named Syracuse's 31^st head coach on November 28, 2023, Brown immediately instilled a culture of success, delivering a 10-win season in his first year at the helm. Syracuse won three games against top-25 opposition, nine games over bowl teams, and finished the season ranked in every poll for the first time since 2018. Syracuse capped an impressive first season under Brown with a win over Washington State in the DIRECTV Holiday Bowl.

In Brown's debut campaign, 12 Syracuse players earned all-ACC honors, as Syracuse boasted the nation's most prolific offensive attack - led by quarterback Kyle McCord, who finished in the top 10 of the Heisman Trophy balloting and tight end Oronde Gadsden II, who earned AP All-America honors.

Brown came to Syracuse after a highly-successful stint as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia. During his time in Athens, the Bulldogs were 27-1, capturing the 2022 national championship. In addition to his on-field coaching acumen, Brown has been recognized as the nation's No. 1 recruiter for his 2024 recruiting class after recruiting two five-star prospects to Georgia.

Prior to his two-year stint at Georgia, Brown also coached the defensive backs at Temple University and Baylor University and served as Temple's co-defensive coordinator in the 2019 season.

In addition to the Newcomer Coach of the Year award, eight active college football coaches have been announced as the finalists for the American Heart Association's 2024 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award. The award is given each January to a college football coach 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. 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. The Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award winner will be announced live from Houston's Post Oak Hotel on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, during an awards ceremony presented by Marathon Oil. The event will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network at 11:30pm CST on January 22^nd.

Five of the finalists were also named Bear Bryant conference coaches of the year for their respective conferences.

The 2024 Coach of the Year finalists are (in alphabetical order by finalist last name):

Shane Beamer, University of South Carolina (Bear Bryant Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year)

Curt Cignetti, Indiana University (Bear Bryant Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year)

Spencer Danielson, Boise State University

Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State University (Bear Bryant Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year)

Marcus Freeman, University of Notre Dame

Rhett Lashlee, Southern Methodist University (Bear Bryant Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year)

Jeff Monken, United States Military Academy (Bear Bryant Group of Five Coach of the Year)

Steve Sarkisian, University of Texas

The American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives for all and the Bryant family present the award annually. The award celebrates Bear Bryant's legacy and raises 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.

Also previously announced, Grant Teaff, the legendary former Baylor University head coach and American Football Coaches Association executive director and Mark Richt, former University of Georgia and University of Miami head coach, will also be recognized at this year's awards event. Coach Teaff will receive the 2025 Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston and Coach Richt will receive the 2025 Heart of a Champion Award presented by St. Luke's Health in Houston.

Marathon Oil Corporation, an independent exploration and production company based in Houston, has served as the presenting sponsor of the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards for more than a decade, underscoring the company's commitment to health and wellness and supporting initiatives that promote the well-being of workers and their families in the communities where it operates. Fans can follow the action at facebook.com/bryantawards, x.com/bryantawards or Instagram.com/bryantawards or the hashtag #BryantAwards. To attend the exclusive, VIP experience visit bryantawards.org.

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public's health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

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For Media Inquiries:

Paul Smith; (940) 367-7762,[email protected]

Steven Embree; (405) 415-3039,[email protected]

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org