Photo by: Tim Sanger
10/22/2026 9:50:00 AM | Football
FARGO, N.D. - Third-year North Dakota State head football coach Tim Polasek was named to the watch list for the Paul "Bear" Bryant National Coach of the Year Award on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Polasek has guided the Bison to a 6-1 record in their first year of competition in the Football Bowl Subdivision including a 3-1 record in the Mountain West Conference. He has a 32-4 overall record in his third season as a head coach.
The American Heart Association presents the Bear Bryant Awards annually to celebrate excellence in coaching, to honor coach Bryant's legacy and to raise awareness and critical funds for its mission. The coaching legend died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement. Since its inception, the awards have united the football community in support of the Association's lifesaving work.
The watch list, finalists and Coach of the Year recipient are voted on by the National Sports Media Association and the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Executive Leadership Team, comprised of members of the Bryant family and community leaders who come together to support the campaign.
Twenty-eight coaches were named to the watch list with three coming from the Mountain West including Air Force's Troy Calhoun and New Mexico's Jason Eck.
Also named to the watch list were former NDSU defensive coordinator and current Northwestern head coach David Braun, and former NDSU safeties coach and current Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert.
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 Six conferences (American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, Pac-12 Conference, and Sun Belt Conference) and independent teams.
The National Coach of the Year Award is one of five honors presented annually during the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Ceremony, which is in its 41st year. This year's event will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 27, in Houston with television coverage on CBS Sports Network.
Polasek has guided the Bison to a 6-1 record in their first year of competition in the Football Bowl Subdivision including a 3-1 record in the Mountain West Conference. He has a 32-4 overall record in his third season as a head coach.
The American Heart Association presents the Bear Bryant Awards annually to celebrate excellence in coaching, to honor coach Bryant's legacy and to raise awareness and critical funds for its mission. The coaching legend died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement. Since its inception, the awards have united the football community in support of the Association's lifesaving work.
The watch list, finalists and Coach of the Year recipient are voted on by the National Sports Media Association and the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Executive Leadership Team, comprised of members of the Bryant family and community leaders who come together to support the campaign.
Twenty-eight coaches were named to the watch list with three coming from the Mountain West including Air Force's Troy Calhoun and New Mexico's Jason Eck.
Also named to the watch list were former NDSU defensive coordinator and current Northwestern head coach David Braun, and former NDSU safeties coach and current Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert.
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 Six conferences (American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, Pac-12 Conference, and Sun Belt Conference) and independent teams.
The National Coach of the Year Award is one of five honors presented annually during the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Ceremony, which is in its 41st year. This year's event will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 27, in Houston with television coverage on CBS Sports Network.
Tuesday, October 20
Sunday, October 18
Tuesday, October 13
Tuesday, October 06
