CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami Hurricanes head football coach Mario Cristobal has been named to the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List, as announced by the American Heart Association and the Bryant Awards on Wednesday.

Cristobal was among the 27 coaches nationally and four within the ACC selected to the watch list. The award is given annually 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.

In his third season at the helm of the Hurricanes, Cristobal has led sixth-ranked Miami (6-0, 2-0 ACC) to its best start since 2017.

The Hurricanes are one of just six programs to rank in the top 15 of both total offense and total defense.

Cristobal’s team is No. 1 in all of FBS in total offense, averaging 583.8 yards per game.

Under his guidance, senior quarterback Cam Ward has emerged as a Heisman Trophy candidate, becoming the first player to open his Miami career with six straight performances of 300-plus passing yards.

The 39^th annual Coach of the Year award winner will be announced live from Houston’s Post Oak Hotel on Wed., Jan. 22, 2024. The watch list, 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.

In honor of legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant, the American Heart Association and the Bryant family present the award each year to raise awareness and critical funds for scientific research to eliminate needless suffering and death from cardiovascular disease and stroke, the leading causes of death globally.