The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Bill Clark Named a Finalist for the 2018 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award
12/19/2018 3:28:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – After capping off a record-breaking season with UAB's first-ever bowl win in the 2018 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl, head coach Bill Clark has been named a finalist for the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award.
In 2018, the Blazers claimed their first-ever Conference USA Championship and bowl victory en route to setting the program record for overall (11) and C-USA wins (7). UAB landed 14 players on C-USA postseason awards teams and completed its second-straight undefeated season home. The Blazers are 12-0 at Legion Field since the program's reinstatement.
Since UAB returned to the field in 2017, Clark has led a revival which has seen the Blazers compile an overall record of 19-8 and a league mark of 14-3 (including the title game). The 19 wins are the most over a two-year span in school history and the 14 victories are the most of any C-USA school since 2017.
In three seasons with the Blazers, Clark has compiled a record of 25-14 and is 36-18 overall as a Division I head coach.
Now in its 33rd year, the Coach of the Year Award recognizes the country's top college football coach for their contributions both on and off the field. The award is the only college coaching honor selected after all bowl games are concluded and is voted on by the National Sports Media Association.
Behind the scenes, the award is much bigger than a season's success. It is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on heart disease and stroke – the nation's no. 1 and no. 5 health threats. Since the adoption of the name, the Bryant Awards has raised over $9.8 Million for the American Heart Association, funding research, education and advocacy efforts and saving countless lives.
The winner will be announced live on Jan. 9, 2019 during the awards dinner and ceremony at the Post Oak Hotel in Houston.
The 2018 award finalists are:
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (FWAA)
CBS Sports National Coach of the Year
Sporting News National Coach of the Year
George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year (Maxwell Football Club)
Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Finalist
In 2018, the Blazers claimed their first-ever Conference USA Championship and bowl victory en route to setting the program record for overall (11) and C-USA wins (7). UAB landed 14 players on C-USA postseason awards teams and completed its second-straight undefeated season home. The Blazers are 12-0 at Legion Field since the program's reinstatement.
Since UAB returned to the field in 2017, Clark has led a revival which has seen the Blazers compile an overall record of 19-8 and a league mark of 14-3 (including the title game). The 19 wins are the most over a two-year span in school history and the 14 victories are the most of any C-USA school since 2017.
In three seasons with the Blazers, Clark has compiled a record of 25-14 and is 36-18 overall as a Division I head coach.
Now in its 33rd year, the Coach of the Year Award recognizes the country's top college football coach for their contributions both on and off the field. The award is the only college coaching honor selected after all bowl games are concluded and is voted on by the National Sports Media Association.
Behind the scenes, the award is much bigger than a season's success. It is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on heart disease and stroke – the nation's no. 1 and no. 5 health threats. Since the adoption of the name, the Bryant Awards has raised over $9.8 Million for the American Heart Association, funding research, education and advocacy efforts and saving countless lives.
The winner will be announced live on Jan. 9, 2019 during the awards dinner and ceremony at the Post Oak Hotel in Houston.
The 2018 award finalists are:
- Bill Clark – University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Josh Heupel – University of Central Florida
- Brian Kelly – Notre Dame
- Jeff Monken – Army West Point
- Nick Saban – University of Alabama
- Dabo Swinney – Clemson University
- Jeff Tedford – Fresno State University
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (FWAA)
CBS Sports National Coach of the Year
Sporting News National Coach of the Year
George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year (Maxwell Football Club)
Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Finalist
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