Swinney named Paul 'Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year for second time

by CU Athletic Communications - Wed Jan 11 22:41:18 GMT-04:00 2017

Clemson, S.C. (CLEMSON SID) —Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney won the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year Award on Wednesday night. The presentation was made in Houston, Texas. Swinney also won the award last year and he is the first two-time winner of the Bear Bryant Award.

Swinney led Clemson to the National Championship on Monday night with a 35-31 victory over previously No. 1 ranked Alabama. It was Clemson’s first win over the nation’s No. 1 ranked team and it gave Clemson a 14-1 record, tied for the most victories in Clemson and FBS history.

The win over Alabama was Clemson’s fifth this year over top 25 teams, including wins over No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Louisville. Clemson defeated six teams that finished in the final top 25 of the AP poll, a school record.

Clemson also won the ACC Championship with a victory over Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game in December. It was the program’s second straight ACC title, the first time in 28 years Clemson won consecutive league crowns.

Swinney has been named a National Coach of the Year in four of the last six years. He won the Bobby Dodd Award in 2011, was the FCA National Coach of the Year in 2013 and was named by numerous organizations in 2015, including the Associated Press and the American Football Coaches Association.

Congrats to @ClemsonFB Dabo Swinney as the #BryantAwards College Football Coach of the Year! Thanks for great leadership & a great season! pic.twitter.com/FBNUdlJxbV
— American Heart Assoc (@ahahouston) January 12, 2017

. @ClemsonFB coach Davis Swinney on winning the Paul 'Bear' Bryant Award #bryantawards pic.twitter.com/haK9SdE84l
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) January 12, 2017

. @ClemsonFB coach Dabo Swinney: 'Coach Bryant was my hero.' #bryantawards pic.twitter.com/FE6LUF5Tci
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) January 12, 2017

Dabo Swinney says "to actually win this trophy, is so humbling." #BryantAwards @ClemsonFB @ClemsonTigers pic.twitter.com/IbebLL9qKK
— American Heart Assoc (@ahahouston) January 12, 2017

BREAKING: @ClemsonFB coach Dabo Swinney wins Paul 'Bear' Bryant Award for second year in a row #BryantAwards pic.twitter.com/MdFkVKSEAT
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) January 12, 2017

. @ClemsonFB coach Dabo Swinney: ‘I am officially dreaming. This is the cherry on top.’ Becomes two-time winner of #BryantAwards
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) January 12, 2017