Chryst named finalist for ‘Bear’ Bryant Coach of the Year Award
December 13, 2017 | Football
Led Badgers to first undefeated regular season since 1912
The consensus 2017 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Chryst has guided the Badgers to a 12-1 record, a No. 6 standing in the final College Football Playoff rankings and the Big Ten West Division title. UW finished the regular season 12-0, completing its first undefeated regular season since going 7-0 in 1912.
In his three seasons at the helm, Wisconsin has amassed a 33-7 record, including a 22-4 mark in Big Ten play. Chryst joins Michigan's Fielding Yost and Ohio State's Urban Meyer as the only Big Ten coaches to lead their teams to at least 10 wins in each of their first three seasons.
The Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award honors excellence in football coaching, both on and off the field, the hallmark of Coach Bryant's legacy. Joining Chryst as finalists are Clay Helton (USC), Scott Frost (UCF), Gus Malzahn (Auburn), Jeff Monken (Army), Kirby Smart (Georgia) and Dabo Swinney (Clemson). The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Houston, Texas, on Jan. 10.
Chryst joins Helton and Swinney as repeat finalists from a year ago.
Chryst's latest honor comes in addition to being named one of five AFCA Regional Coaches of the Year. He joins Frost, Smart, Matt Campbell (Iowa State) and Jeff Tedford (Fresno State) as the finalists for the AFCA National Coach of the Year Award that will be presented at the American Football Coaches Awards on Jan. 9 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
