Former Head Coach Bob Chesney Named Finalist for Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year

HOUSTON, Texas – Following a historic season, through which James Madison received its first Sun Belt Conference championship and earned a berth within the College Football Playoff, former head coach Bob Chesney was named a finalist for the 2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year.


Chesney is one in every of eight finalists for the accolade, being joined on the checklist by Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, Miami’s Mario Cristobal, Texas A&M’s Mike Elko, Virginia Tony Elliott, Oregon’s Dan Lanning, Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea and Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire.

Additionally, Chesney was honored because the Bear Bryant Group of 6 Conference Coach of the Year. The honor is the equal of recognizing JMU’s efficiency as greatest amongst all faculties within the Sun Belt, American, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Pac-12.

The 2025 soccer season noticed JMU go 12-2 total with and unblemished 8-0 mark in Sun Belt play. Following a 31-14 victory over Troy within the Sun Belt Football Championship, JMU was the fifth-highest ranked convention champion and was the No. 12 seed for the 2025-26 CFP.

JMU received an FBS-era document 11 straight video games between Sept. 20 and Dec. 5 and was ranked #19 within the remaining AP and Coaches polls previous to the postseason. Chesney’s JMU group led the Sun Belt in scoring offense and protection and whole offense and protection whereas being tops within the league in each speeding offense and protection.

The Sun Belt honored JMU with 4 main yearly awards and a program-record 19 All-Sun Belt laurels, highlighted by Chesney being voted Coach of the Year, Alonza Barnett as Player of the Year, Trent Hendrick as Defensive Player of the Year and Sahir West as Freshman of the Year. Wayne Knight, Hendrick and Pat McMurtrie additionally took house FBS All-America honors, which included Knight being a Second Team All-American by 4 completely different organizations.

About the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year: The award, now in its fortieth 12 months, is given yearly to a school soccer coach for contributions that make the game higher for athletes and followers alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a successful method to teaching and life – each on and off the sphere. The Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award is the solely faculty soccer teaching honor given after the nationwide champion has been decided. The finalists and Coach of the Year recipient are voted on by members of the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards’ Executive Leadership Team and the Bryant Family.

The Bear Bryant Coach of the Year might be introduced on Jan. 21 throughout an awards ceremony in Houston.