Mike Leach to Receive Posthumous Paul "Bear" Bryant Heart of a Champion Award

The American Heart Association will posthumously honor Mike Leach, one of college football's most innovative coaches, with the 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Heart of a Champion Award. Leach, who passed away in December 2022 at age 61 after suffering a heart attack, will be recognized for his larger-than-life impact on the game, his players, and the communities he touched throughout his coaching career. The award presentation by Houston-based St. Luke's Health celebrates Leach's exceptional contributions to college football and his embodiment of the characteristics for which Coach Bryant was known, including integrity, perseverance, determination and grit.

Nancy Brown, American Heart Association chief executive officer, emphasized Leach's transcendent impact, stating that he inspired generations with his innovative spirit, authenticity and fearless leadership. These qualities align with the enduring legacy of Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and the mission of the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere. The organization presents the Bear Bryant Awards annually to celebrate coaching excellence, honor Coach Bryant's legacy, and raise awareness and critical funds for its mission. Coach Bryant himself died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement.

Leach's widow, Sharon, will receive the award in honor of her husband's legacy during the ceremony scheduled for January 21, 2026, in Houston. The event will air on CBS Sports Network and represents one of five honors presented annually during the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Ceremony presented by Memorial Hermann Health System. Sharon Leach expressed the family's gratitude for the recognition of Mike's contribution to college football, noting they look forward to attending the Houston event. Previous recipients of the Heart of a Champion Award include notable figures such as Mark Richt (2025), Olivia and Archie Manning (2024), Mark Dantonio (2023), David Shaw (2022), Sylvester Croom (2021) and Lee Corso (2020).

Leach's coaching legacy is defined by his revolutionary development of the air raid offensive system, which transformed passing attacks across college football. During his head coaching tenures at Texas Tech University, Washington State University and Mississippi State University, he fine-tuned this system to shatter numerous records. His innovative approach produced two NFL draft picks at quarterback: Tim Couch of the University of Kentucky, selected No. 1 overall in 1999, and current Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, taken as a sixth-round pick in 2003. Throughout his career, Leach's teams consistently produced record-breaking offenses and thrilling performances that reshaped how the game is played.

The coaching legend compiled a combined 158-106 record over 21 seasons as a head coach, with his teams winning 18 games over AP-ranked opponents while unranked themselves - the most such victories since the AP poll was introduced in 1998. His 2008 Texas Tech team posted an 11-2 record and secured a Cotton Bowl berth, earning Leach Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year honors along with both the Woody Hayes Trophy and the George Munger Award. A Brigham Young University graduate, Leach brought an unconventional background to college football and turned it into a career that produced more than 150 victories, proving that innovation and adaptability could outmatch tradition and resources.

The Heart of a Champion Award, now in its seventh year, is selected by the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards Executive Leadership Team and recognizes individuals whose notable contributions and positive influence have helped define the sports experience. Fans can follow the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards and track progress of the awards at https://facebook.com/bryantawards or https://x.com/bryantawards. Additional information about the American Heart Association's mission to ensure equitable health in all communities is available at https://heart.org, where the organization continues its work funding groundbreaking research, advocating for public health, and providing critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke.