HOUSTON, Texas (JMU Athletics) – Following a historic season, in which James Madison won its first Sun Belt Conference championship and earned a berth in 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 of eight finalists for the accolade, being joined on the list 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 as the Bear Bryant Group of 6 Conference Coach of the Year. The honor is the equivalent of recognizing JMU’s performance as best among all schools in the Sun Belt, American, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Pac-12.
The 2025 football season saw JMU go 12-2 overall with and unblemished 8-0 mark in Sun Belt play. Following a 31-14 victory over Troy in the Sun Belt Football Championship, JMU was the fifth-highest ranked conference champion and was the No. 12 seed for the 2025-26 CFP.
JMU won an FBS-era record 11 straight games between Sept. 20 and Dec. 5 and was ranked #19 in the final AP and Coaches polls prior to the postseason. Chesney’s JMU team led the Sun Belt in scoring offense and defense and total offense and defense while being tops in the league in both rushing offense and defense.
The Sun Belt honored JMU with four major 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 also took home FBS All-America honors, which included Knight being a Second Team All-American by four different organizations.
About the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year: The award, now in its 40th year, is given annually 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 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award is the only college football coaching honor given after the national champion has been determined. 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 will be announced on Jan. 21 during an awards ceremony in Houston.
— JMU Athletics —
