Elliott Named to Bryant Coach of the Year Watch List

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Fralin Family Head Football Coach Tony Elliott was named to the American Heart Association’s 2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch checklist on Wednesday (Oct. 15). He is considered one of 28 faculty soccer coaches acknowledged and considered one of three from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The award is given every January to a school soccer coach for contributions that make the game higher for athletes and followers alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a successful strategy to teaching and life – each on and off the sector.

Virginia is 5-1 by its first six video games, its greatest begin for the reason that 2017 season. The Cavaliers are additionally atop the ACC standings at 3-0, the primary 3-0 begin in league play by this system since 2007. Virginia is presently ranked No. 18 within the AP ballot, its highest for the reason that 2019 season and first time ranked since Elliott took over this system previous to the 2022 season.

UVA picked up a pair of signature wins this season, first with a double-overtime victory over then-No. 8 Florida State at residence on Sept. 26. It marked the primary residence win over a top-10 opponent since 2005 and the third win over a top-25 staff within the Elliott period. The Cavaliers adopted it up with one other time beyond regulation victory at Louisville, 30-27 on Oct. 4.

Virginia will host Washington State on Saturday (Oct. 18) at 6:30 p.m. on the CW Network. A victory would make the Cavaliers bowl eligible for the primary time since 2021.

The 2025 Watch List consists of (in alphabetical order):
Bret Bielema – University of Illinois – Big Ten Conference
Curt Cignetti – Indiana University – Big Ten Conference
Mario Cristobal – University of Miami – Atlantic Coast Conference
Ryan Day – The Ohio State University – Big Ten Conference
Kalen DeBoer – University of Alabama – Southeastern Conference
Eliah Drinkwitz – University of Missouri – Southeastern Conference
Tony Elliott – University of Virginia – Atlantic Coast Conference
Mike Elko – Texas A&M University – Southeastern Conference
Matt Entz – Fresno State University – Mountain West Conference
Willie Fritz – University of Houston – Big 12 Conference
Alex Golesh – University of South Florida – American Athletic Conference
Josh Heupel – University of Tennessee – Southeastern Conference
Brian Kelly – Louisiana State University – Southeastern Conference
Brent Key – Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) – Atlantic Coast Conference
Lane Kiffin – University of Mississippi – Southeastern Conference
Dan Lanning – University of Oregon – Big Ten Conference
Clark Lea – Vanderbilt University – Southeastern Conference
Joey McGuire – Texas Tech University – Big 12 Conference
Dan Mullen – University of Nevada, Las Vegas – Mountain West Conference
Brian Newberry – United States Naval Academy – American Athletic Conference
Lincoln Riley – University of Southern California – Big Ten Conference
Scott Satterfield – University of Cincinnati – Big 12 Conference
Ryan Silverfield – University of Memphis – American Athletic Conference
Kalani Sitake – Brigham Young University – Big 12 Conference
Kirby Smart – University of Georgia – Southeastern Conference
Jon Sumrall – Tulane University – American Athletic Conference
Brent Venables – University of Oklahoma – Southeastern Conference
Kyle Whittingham – University of Utah – Big 12 Conference

In addition to the Coach of the Year, the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards will even current Conference Coach of the Year Awards from every of the Power Four collegiate athletic conferences (Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference) and one from the mixed Group of Five conferences (American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference and Sun Belt Conference), the Pac-12 and Independent groups.