The award was presented by Marathon Oil in Houston at the 39th annual awards program that benefits the American Heart Association.

“We are honored to award Coach Freeman this year’s Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award, recognizing his exemplary efforts both on and off the field,” said Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association Nancy Brown. “This signature award honors the legacy of Coach Bryant, by acknowledging his same high standard of excellence in today’s college football coaches. The collaboration between the Bryant family and the American Heart Association on both the annual awards and recruiting college football programs to join the Nation of Lifesavers™ advances our efforts for a world of longer, healthier lives. Congratulations to all of the finalists.”

Officials say this coach of the year award is voted on by the National Sports Media Association, current NCAA College football coaches, former Coach of the Year Award winners, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards’ Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant family.

The Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award is the only college football coaching honor given after the national champion is over, officials say.

“I am humbled and honored to receive the award because of what it represents,” said Freeman. “Coach Bryant has always been the standard of college football coaches. Not only because of the six football national championships but more importantly because he was a leader on and off the field. He possessed the ability to inspire, the patience to teach, the gift of leadership. Coach Bryant often talked about a part of something bigger than himself. I am honored to be a part of Team Bryant to fight against heart disease and stroke," said Freeman.

The American Heart Association states they and the Bryant family teamed up in 1986 after football coaching legend Paul “Bear” Bryant died from a heart attack in 1983.

The Association’s Coach of the Year Award aims to amplify and drive education surrounding heart disease.