HOUSTON (American Heart Association/SMU) – Head Coach Rhett Lashlee is one of 27 coaches that make up the American Heart Association's 2024 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list, a list of current coaches in consideration for the annual top honor that was released on Wednesday.
 
The award, given each January to a college football coach, recognizes 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.
 
Lashlee has continued his success in year three at the helm of Mustangs. A 2023 finalist of the award, Lashlee has led the Mustangs to their best six-game start under his watch, posting a 5-1 record on the season, highlighted by a 2-0 mark in the ACC and being ranked No. 21 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll.
 
The 2-0 mark is the first time a team has won its first two conference games its first year in a power conference after moving up from a Group of Five conference the previous season.
 
The Mustangs have been a force again on both sides of the ball, ranking in the top 25 in FBS in multiple categories including defensive touchdowns (first), points off turnovers (first), turnovers gained (third), passes intercepted (fifth), turnover margin (eighth), scoring offense (13th), sacks allowed (14th), rushing defense (17th), first down defense (21st) and first down offense (23rd).
 
In addition to the Coach of the Year, the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards will also present Conference Coach of the Year Awards from each of the Power Four collegiate athletic conferences (Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference) and one from the combined Group of Five conferences (American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference and Sun Belt Conference), the Pac-12 and independent teams.
 
As previously announced, this year's awards event will recognize Grant Teaff, who served as the head coach at Baylor University and as the executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, and Mark Richt, former University of Georgia and University of Miami head coach. 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 track the progress of the Paul "Bear" Bryant awards at  facebook.com/bryantawards, x.com/bryantawards, or instagram.com/bryantawards, or by following the hashtag #BryantAwards. To attend the exclusive virtual, VIP experience for the Bryant Awards, contact 832-918-4009 or visit bryantawards.org.