 Bryant in 1973 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 11, 1913 Moro Bottom, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | January 26, 1983 (aged 69) Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1933–1935 | Alabama |
| Position(s) | End |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1936 (spring) | Union (TN) (line) |
| 1936–1939 | Alabama (line) |
| 1940–1941 | Vanderbilt (line) |
| 1942 | Georgia Pre-Flight (ends) |
| 1944 | North Carolina Pre-Flight (line) |
| 1945 | Maryland |
| 1946–1953 | Kentucky |
| 1954–1957 | Texas A&M |
| 1958–1982 | Alabama |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1954–1957 | Texas A&M |
| 1958–1983 | Alabama |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 323–85–17 |
| Bowls | 15–12–2 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 6 national (1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979) 14 SEC (1950, 1961, 1964–1966, 1971–1975, 1977–1979, 1981) 1 SWC (1956) | |
| Awards | |
| |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1986 (profile) | |
Paul William "Bear" Bryant (September 11, 1913 – January 26, 1983) was an American college football player and coach. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, and best known as the head coach of the University of Alabama football team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, from 1958 to 1982. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and 13 conference championships. Upon his retirement in 1982, he held the record for the most wins (323) as a head coach in collegiate football history. The Paul W. Bryant Museum, Paul W. Bryant Hall, Paul W. Bryant Drive, and Bryant–Denny Stadium are all named in his honor at the University of Alabama.
He was also known for his trademark black and white houndstooth hat (even though he normally wore a plaid one), deep voice, casually leaning up against the goal post during pre-game warmups, and holding his rolled-up game plan while on the sidelines. Before arriving at Alabama, Bryant was head football coach at the University of Maryland, the University of Kentucky, and Texas A&M University.