Fresno State football Head Coach Matt Entz was named to the 2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list.
The American Heart Association has been awarding college coaches with this honor for 40 years. The award raises awareness for the association and honors the legendary college football coach, Bear Bryant, who died of a heart attack in 1983.
Entz is one of 28 coaches across the country to make the list. He is one of two coaches representing the Mountain West.
Dan Mullen, head coach of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels, was also named to the list. Mullen has coached the Rebels to a 6-0 record thus far as UNLV sits atop the Mountain West standings.
Entz and the Bulldogs are currently tied for fourth in the conference with a 5-2 overall record and 2-1 in conference play.
Before joining the Bulldogs, Entz spent time at the University of Southern California under Head Coach Lincoln Riley, who was also named to the watch list.
Former Fresno State Head Coach Kalen DeBoer, now the head coach at the University of Alabama, was also named to the watch list.
The American Heart Association also awards Conference Coach of the Year Awards to each of the Power Four conferences and one from the combined Group of Five conferences, which the Mountain West is in.
The award winner will be presented on Jan. 21, 2026, during the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Awards ceremony.
