Chadwell Honored as Paul “Bear” Bryant Award Group of Five Coach of the Year
1/11/2024 1:30:00 PM | Football
After leading the Flames to a CUSA Championship and the program's first-ever New Year's Six bowl game, Liberty Head Football Coach Jamey Chadwell was honored last night as the top Group of Five coach in the country.
At an award ceremony in Houston, Chadwell was presented with the 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Group of 5 Conference Coach of the Year award winner on Wednesday.
Chadwell was also one of eight head coaches at the ceremony who was a finalist for the 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award.
The eight college football coaches who made up the 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award finalists list were David Braun (Northwestern), Chadwell (Liberty), Kalen DeBoer (Washington), Eliah Drinkwitz (Missouri), Rhett Lashlee (SMU), Mike Norvell (Florida State), Nick Saban (Alabama) and Steve Sarkisian (Texas).
The winner of his year's 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award was Mike Norvell, who led Florida State to an ACC Championship and a 13-0 record heading into the Capital One Orange Bowl.
The award is given each January to a college football coach for contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life – both on and off the field.
The finalists and Coach of the Year recipient were voted on by the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant Family.
Chadwell was also named the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Group of 5 Conference Coach of the Year award winner in 2020 after leading Coastal Carolina to a 10-0 undefeated regular season record.
Chadwell was named a semifinalist for the 2023 George Munger College Coach of the Year Award, a finalist for the 2023 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, the HERO Sports Group of Five Co-Coach of the Year and CUSA Co-Coach of the Year award winners.
During his first season on the Mountain, Chadwell led the Flames to unprecedented success in 2023.
Liberty entered bowl season with a perfect 13-0 record and was one of four undefeated teams in the country, joining Florida State, Washington and eventual national champion Michigan.
Chadwell, winner of this same Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award in 2020, guided the Flames to an unblemished 8-0 regular season record in Conference USA and a 49-35 win over New Mexico State in the CUSA Football Championship game.
Chadwell's success positioned the Flames to receive their first-ever invitation to play in a New Year's Six bowl game. Liberty squared off against No. 8 Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on January 1 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Chadwell's spread option offense allowed Liberty to finish the 2023 season ranked No. 1 in the country in rushing, averaging 293.3 yards per game. Liberty finished the year rushing for a program-record 4,106 yards and 39 touchdowns.
Additionally, Liberty ranks No. 1 in tackles for a loss allowed (2.64 per game), No. 2 in sacks allowed (0.64 per game), No. 2 in passing yards per completion (16.19), No. 3 in winning percentage (92.9), No. 4 in total offense (499.1 yards per game), No. 4 in first down offense (348), No. 8 in time of possession (33:04) and No. 9 scoring offense (38.3 points per game).
Defensively, Liberty leads the nation with 21 interceptions while ranking No. 9 in the country in turnovers gained (25).
2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award Finalist
David Braun – Northwestern (Bear Bryant Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year)
Jamey Chadwell – Liberty (Bear Bryant Group of Five Conference Coach of the Year)
Kalen DeBoer – Washington (Bear Bryant Pac-12 Conference Coach of the Year)
Eliah Drinkwitz – Missouri (Bear Bryant SEC Coach of the Year)
Rhett Lashlee – SMU
Mike Norvell – Florida State (Bear Bryant ACC Coach of the Year)
Nick Saban – Alabama
Steve Sarkisian – Texas (Bear Bryant Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year)
2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award Winner
Mike Norvell – Florida State
At an award ceremony in Houston, Chadwell was presented with the 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Group of 5 Conference Coach of the Year award winner on Wednesday.
Chadwell was also one of eight head coaches at the ceremony who was a finalist for the 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award.
The eight college football coaches who made up the 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award finalists list were David Braun (Northwestern), Chadwell (Liberty), Kalen DeBoer (Washington), Eliah Drinkwitz (Missouri), Rhett Lashlee (SMU), Mike Norvell (Florida State), Nick Saban (Alabama) and Steve Sarkisian (Texas).
The winner of his year's 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award was Mike Norvell, who led Florida State to an ACC Championship and a 13-0 record heading into the Capital One Orange Bowl.
The award is given each January to a college football coach for contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life – both on and off the field.
The finalists and Coach of the Year recipient were voted on by the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team, and the Bryant Family.
Chadwell was also named the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award Group of 5 Conference Coach of the Year award winner in 2020 after leading Coastal Carolina to a 10-0 undefeated regular season record.
Chadwell was named a semifinalist for the 2023 George Munger College Coach of the Year Award, a finalist for the 2023 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, the HERO Sports Group of Five Co-Coach of the Year and CUSA Co-Coach of the Year award winners.
During his first season on the Mountain, Chadwell led the Flames to unprecedented success in 2023.
Liberty entered bowl season with a perfect 13-0 record and was one of four undefeated teams in the country, joining Florida State, Washington and eventual national champion Michigan.
Chadwell, winner of this same Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award in 2020, guided the Flames to an unblemished 8-0 regular season record in Conference USA and a 49-35 win over New Mexico State in the CUSA Football Championship game.
Chadwell's success positioned the Flames to receive their first-ever invitation to play in a New Year's Six bowl game. Liberty squared off against No. 8 Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on January 1 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Chadwell's spread option offense allowed Liberty to finish the 2023 season ranked No. 1 in the country in rushing, averaging 293.3 yards per game. Liberty finished the year rushing for a program-record 4,106 yards and 39 touchdowns.
Additionally, Liberty ranks No. 1 in tackles for a loss allowed (2.64 per game), No. 2 in sacks allowed (0.64 per game), No. 2 in passing yards per completion (16.19), No. 3 in winning percentage (92.9), No. 4 in total offense (499.1 yards per game), No. 4 in first down offense (348), No. 8 in time of possession (33:04) and No. 9 scoring offense (38.3 points per game).
Defensively, Liberty leads the nation with 21 interceptions while ranking No. 9 in the country in turnovers gained (25).
2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award Finalist
David Braun – Northwestern (Bear Bryant Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year)
Jamey Chadwell – Liberty (Bear Bryant Group of Five Conference Coach of the Year)
Kalen DeBoer – Washington (Bear Bryant Pac-12 Conference Coach of the Year)
Eliah Drinkwitz – Missouri (Bear Bryant SEC Coach of the Year)
Rhett Lashlee – SMU
Mike Norvell – Florida State (Bear Bryant ACC Coach of the Year)
Nick Saban – Alabama
Steve Sarkisian – Texas (Bear Bryant Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year)
2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award Winner
Mike Norvell – Florida State
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