Pitt's Wannstedt named finalist for Bear Bryant coach of the year award

October 31, 3:07 PMPittsburgh Sports ExaminerMatt Pawlikowski

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Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt has turned around the Pitt football program and is up for coach of year.

AP/File Photo

The honors keep rolling in for the Pitt Panthers.

A top 20 ranking, a 7-1 slate, and now this. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt, who has led the Panthers to their best start in 27 years, has been named to the watch list for the Paul “Bear” Bryant College Football Coach of the Year award, it was announced by the Bryant Awards committee of the American Heart Association.

Wannstedt is one of 20 coaches on the list, which was selected by a committee comprised of national sports media members, current and past event chairmen, former collegiate players and coaches, and Bryant family representatives.

Bryant Coach of the Year finalists will be announced in December. They will attend an awards dinner in Houston, Texas, on Jan. 14, 2010, when the winner will be announced. The winner of the Bryant College Football Coach of the Year award is selected by members of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and is the only college coaching award voted on after all bowl games are played.

Wannstedt, in his fifth year as head coach at Pitt, has led the Panthers to a 7-1 overall record and 4-0 Big East mark. The 7-1 start marks Pitt’s best record after eight games since 1982.

The Panthers continue to climb in the national polls, earning a No. 16 ranking by The Associated Press and No. 17 in the USA Today coaches poll. In the latest Bowl Championship Series standings, Pitt is rated No. 15.

Following an open date this week, Pitt will return to action Nov. 7 when it hosts Syracuse at noon at Heinz Field. The game will be a national ESPNU telecast.

These are the finalist in addition to Wannstedt for the 2009 award, and it includes two other Big East coaches. Bill Stewart of rival West Virginia made the list as well as Cincinatti's Brian Kelly. Penn State's Joe Paterno is also on the list. Also making the list is Pittsburg native Kirk Ferenz.
 

• Robb Akey – University of Idaho
• Mack Brown – University of Texas
• Pete Carroll – University of Southern California
• Kirk Ferentz – University of Iowa
• Al Golden – Temple University
• Mike Gundy – Oklahoma State University
• Paul Johnson – Georgia Institute of Technology
• Brian Kelly – University of Cincinnati
• Chip Kelly – University of Oregon
• Bronco Mendenhall – Brigham Young University
• Urban Meyer – University of Florida
• Les Miles – Louisiana State University
• Joe Paterno – Penn State University
• Gary Patterson – Texas Christian University
• Chris Petersen – Boise State University
• Nick Saban – University of Alabama
• Randy Shannon – University of Miami
• Bill Stewart – West Virginia University
• Kevin Sumlin – University of Houston

For more Pitt news, check out Panther Examiner Steve Flinn.