Back to Coaches
Peak DominatorBalancedLong Career

Coach Profile

Bear Bryant

1945-1982 • Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Texas A&M

4 schools coached, anchored by Alabama.

Bear Bryant's coaching record is 323-85-17, highlighted by seasons at Alabama from 1945 to 1982.

Bear Bryant coached 38 seasons, won 78.0%, and posted an average SRS of 19.6. Best season: 1971 Alabama. The profile was balanced with a highly volatile profile. 4 stints shaped the career arc.

Compare this coachAll coach recordsRanked opponent recordJump to seasons
Career record
323-85-17
Career win rate
78.0%
Average SRS
19.6
Peak SRS
33.0

Career Dossier

One glance at the full arc.

The profile below keeps the headline numbers visible, then moves into tenure shape, school impact, and full season detail.

Seasons coached
38
Career span
38 years
Best finish
#1
Consistency
32.2

Primary school anchor

Alabama

Balanced profile with 4 program stops and a peak score of 98.2.

Quick Answers

Records fans search first

Headline records use countable season rows after completed-game fallback. Partial seasons and provisional placeholders are called out separately.

Compare Bear Bryant
Overall record
323-85-17

425 countable games, 78.0% win rate.

Alabama record
232-46-9

25 countable seasons at Alabama.

Full-season record
323-85-17

38 full season rows; partial and backfilled current rows are separated.

Vs AP Top 25
43-45-1

89 games using AP ranking at game time.

Vs AP Top 10
22-26

48 games using AP ranking at game time.

Vs AP Top 5
6-15

21 games using AP ranking at game time.

Vs Mississippi State
24-1

Battle for Highway 82 games in this dataset.

Postseason / bowl record
15-12-2

29 scored postseason games in this dataset.

CFP record
0-0

0 College Football Playoff-labeled games since 2014.

National titles
5

Matched by coach team-season against the national championship dataset.

Record definition and data status

Career records use countable coach-season rows. Zero-game placeholders are excluded from aggregates until a completed-game fallback can verify the record.

Completed-game fallback uses scored games joined by coach, team, and season; advanced ratings are left blank when the season summary has not supplied them.

Latest completed coached game in this dataset: Dec 29, 1982. Current and future zero-game placeholders are kept visible but excluded from headline records.

Career Arc

Track how the coach's season-to-season performance changed over time, where the peak landed, and where each school stint appears.

Focus on where peaks separate, where floors hold, and how the shape of each career changed over time.

Bear Bryant
EliteStrongAverageLean
Bear Bryant: 1946 KentuckyBear Bryant: 1954 Texas A&MBear Bryant: 1958 Alabama
1945Actual season year • SRS range -2.7 to 33.01982

Active comparison point

Bear Bryant • 1971

Selected

1971 Alabama

Best season

11-1 • SRS 33.0 • SP Overall 37.0

Win %

91.7%

YoY SRS

+15.6

SP Off / Def

42.1 / 6.5

Finish

#4

Comparison context

Focus a point to inspect how it stacks up against the rest of the field.

Ranked opponent record

Track career record against ranked opponents with switchable poll source and ranking timing.

Using AP Top 25 rankings at the time of each game; week-one games use the week-one ranking release when available.

Poll source
Ranking timing

Top 25

43-45-1

Games
89
Win rate
48.9%

Top 10

22-26

Games
48
Win rate
45.8%

Top 5

6-15

Games
21
Win rate
28.6%
View ranked game results89
1982 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#11L10-20
1982 Regular Week 6AlabamaPenn State#3W42-21
1981 Regular Week 11AlabamaPenn State#5W31-16
1981 Regular Week 9AlabamaMississippi State#7W13-10
1981 Postseason Week 1AlabamaTexas#2L12-14
1980 Regular Week 12AlabamaNotre Dame#2L0-7
1980 Regular Week 10AlabamaMississippi State#19L3-6
1980 Postseason Week 1AlabamaBaylor#14W30-2
1979 Regular Week 14AlabamaAuburn#17W25-18
1979 Regular Week 8AlabamaTennessee#19W27-17
1979 Postseason Week 1AlabamaArkansas#8W24-9
1978 Regular Week 11AlabamaLSU#17W31-10
1978 Regular Week 4AlabamaUSC#3L14-24
1978 Regular Week 3AlabamaMissouri#17W38-20
1978 Postseason Week 1AlabamaPenn State#4W14-7
1977 Regular Week 6AlabamaUSC#6W21-20
1977 Regular Week 3AlabamaNebraska#14L24-31
1977 Postseason Week 1AlabamaOhio State#11W35-6
1976 Regular Week 11AlabamaNotre Dame#13L18-21
1976 Regular Week 5AlabamaGeorgia#4L0-21
1976 Regular Week 2AlabamaOle Miss#20L7-10
1976 Postseason Week 1AlabamaUCLA#15W36-6
1975 Regular Week 7AlabamaTennessee#16W30-7
1975 Postseason Week 1AlabamaPenn State#10W13-6
1974 Regular Week 13AlabamaAuburn#7W17-13
1974 Regular Week 9AlabamaMississippi State#17W35-0
1974 Regular Week 2AlabamaMaryland#14W21-16
1974 Postseason Week 1AlabamaNotre Dame#6L11-13
1973 Regular Week 13AlabamaLSU#8W21-7
1973 Regular Week 8AlabamaTennessee#14W42-21
1973 Postseason Week 1AlabamaNotre Dame#1L23-24
1972 Regular Week 13AlabamaAuburn#9L16-17
1972 Regular Week 10AlabamaLSU#6W35-21
1972 Regular Week 7AlabamaTennessee#10W17-10
1972 Postseason Week 1AlabamaTexas#3L13-17
1971 Regular Week 12AlabamaAuburn#5W31-7
1971 Regular Week 9AlabamaLSU#18W14-7
1971 Regular Week 6AlabamaTennessee#14W32-15
1971 Postseason Week 1AlabamaNebraska#1L6-38
1970 Regular Week 14AlabamaAuburn#10L28-33
1970 Regular Week 11AlabamaLSU#7L9-14
1970 Regular Week 9AlabamaHouston#18W30-21
1970 Regular Week 8AlabamaTennessee#9L0-24
1970 Regular Week 6AlabamaOle Miss#4L23-48
1970 Regular Week 3AlabamaUSC#7L21-42
1970 Postseason Week 1AlabamaOklahoma#20T24-24
1969 Regular Week 12AlabamaAuburn#11L26-49
1969 Regular Week 9AlabamaLSU#12L15-20
1969 Regular Week 6AlabamaTennessee#3L14-41
1969 Postseason Week 1AlabamaColorado#16L33-47
1968 Regular Week 12AlabamaAuburn#18W24-16
1968 Regular Week 9AlabamaLSU#20W16-7
1968 Regular Week 6AlabamaTennessee#8L9-10
1968 Postseason Week 1AlabamaMissouri#9L10-35
1967 Regular Week 7AlabamaTennessee#4L13-24
1966 Postseason Week 1AlabamaNebraska#6W34-7
1965 Postseason Week 1AlabamaNebraska#5W39-28
1964 Regular Week 9AlabamaLSU#8W17-9
1964 Regular Week 7AlabamaFlorida#9W17-14
1964 Postseason Week 1AlabamaTexas#5L17-21
1963 Regular Week 12AlabamaAuburn#5L8-10
1963 Postseason Week 1AlabamaOle Miss#7W12-7
1962 Postseason Week 1AlabamaOklahoma#8W17-0
1961 Postseason Week 1AlabamaArkansas#9W10-3
1960 Regular Week 6AlabamaTennessee#12L7-20
1959 Regular Week 2AlabamaGeorgia#17L3-17
1959 Postseason Week 1AlabamaPenn State#12L0-7
1958 Regular Week 3AlabamaLSU#13L3-13
1957 Regular Week 10Texas A&MRice#13L6-7
1957 Regular Week 8Texas A&MArkansas#12W7-6
1957 Postseason Week 1Texas A&MTennessee#13L0-3
1956 Regular Week 7Texas A&MBaylor#15W19-13
1956 Regular Week 6Texas A&MTCU#10W7-6
1955 Regular Week 6Texas A&MBaylor#16W19-7
1955 Regular Week 5Texas A&MTCU#7W19-16
1955 Regular Week 2Texas A&MLSU#16W28-0
1954 Regular Week 7Texas A&MArkansas#4L7-14
1954 Regular Week 1Texas A&MTexas Tech#19L9-41
1953 Regular Week 2KentuckyOle Miss#15L6-22
1952 Regular Week 2KentuckyVillanova#12L6-25
1951 Regular Week 4KentuckyGeorgia Tech#5L7-13
1951 Regular Week 2KentuckyTexas#6L6-7
1951 Postseason Week 1KentuckyTCU#11W20-7
1950 Postseason Week 1KentuckyOklahoma#1W13-7
1949 Regular Week 7KentuckySMU#10L7-20
1949 Postseason Week 1KentuckySanta Clara#15L13-21
1948 Regular Week 5KentuckyGeorgia#13L12-35
1947 Regular Week 8KentuckyAlabama#6L0-13
1946 Regular Week 5KentuckyGeorgia#3L13-28

Tenure map

Each stint expands by seasons coached. Deeper color signals a stronger average SRS over that stretch.

Length = seasons coachedDeeper color = stronger stint

Alabama

1958-1982 • 25 seasons

Avg SRS 22.4 • Win % 82.4%

Texas A&M

1954-1957 • 4 seasons

Avg SRS 14.6 • Win % 63.4%

Kentucky

1946-1953 • 8 seasons

Avg SRS 16.2 • Win % 71.0%

Maryland

1945-1945 • 1 seasons

Avg SRS -2.7 • Win % 72.2%

Longest tenure
Alabama • 25 seasons
Best tenure
Alabama • 22.4 SRS
Best tenure win rate
Alabama • 82.4%

Style and Strength Profile

Compare strength, identity, steadiness, and ceiling through normalized bars with raw SP and SRS context underneath.

These bars are normalized against the full coach dataset. Raw SP and SRS values stay visible so the profile reads as evidence, not decoration.

Overall Strength

Start with total quality before splitting style and variance.

Bear Bryant sets the reference point in overall strength.

Overall Strength

Decisive edge

Bear Bryant sets the reference point in overall strength.

Normalized score; raw SP overall stays underneath for reference.

Bear Bryant

Elite

Raw avg SP Overall
28.3
Percentile
100th pct

Elite

Normalized against the full tracked coach pool.

Impact by school

See how each stint compared with what that program usually looked like outside that same span.

Alabama

1958-1982 • 232-46-9

Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).

Avg SRS 22.4Win % 82.4%

Avg wins

Higher is better

9.3 during vs 2.8 baseline

+6.5

Avg SRS

Higher is better

22.4 during vs 2.1 baseline

+20.4

Avg SP Overall

Higher is better

28.3 during vs — baseline

—

Ranked finish rate

Higher is better

84.0% during vs 80.0% baseline

+4.0%

Texas A&M

1954-1957 • 25-14-2

Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).

Avg SRS 14.6Win % 63.4%

Avg wins

Higher is better

6.3 during vs 4.0 baseline

+2.3

Avg SRS

Higher is better

14.6 during vs 8.9 baseline

+5.7

Avg SP Overall

Higher is better

— during vs — baseline

—

Ranked finish rate

Higher is better

75.0% during vs 0.0% baseline

+75.0%

Kentucky

1946-1953 • 60-23-5

Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (4 baseline seasons found).

Avg SRS 16.2Win % 71.0%

Avg wins

Higher is better

7.5 during vs 3.3 baseline

+4.3

Avg SRS

Higher is better

16.2 during vs -1.2 baseline

+17.4

Avg SP Overall

Higher is better

— during vs — baseline

—

Ranked finish rate

Higher is better

62.5% during vs 0.0% baseline

+62.5%

Maryland

1945-1945 • 6-2-1

Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).

Avg SRS -2.7Win % 72.2%

Avg wins

Higher is better

6.0 during vs 3.4 baseline

+2.6

Avg SRS

Higher is better

-2.7 during vs -17.2 baseline

+14.5

Avg SP Overall

Higher is better

— during vs — baseline

—

Ranked finish rate

Higher is better

0.0% during vs 0.0% baseline

+0.0%

Career highs and lows

High Points

Best Season

Alabama 1971

11-1 • SRS 33.0

Biggest Improvement

Kentucky 1946

7-3 • 17.6 SRS

Best Offensive Season

Alabama 1973

11-1 • SP Off 44.6

Best Defensive Season

Alabama 1971

11-1 • SP Def 6.5

Setbacks

Lowest SRS Season

Maryland 1945

6-2-1 • SRS -2.7

Biggest Drop

Texas A&M 1954

1-9 • -13.3 SRS

Season-by-season results

Full transparency into every season in the coaching record. Positive YoY values indicate improvement from the prior season.

Alabama19821284066.7%#3—18.620.437.818.4+0.6-12.5%Season summary
Alabama19811292179.2%#4#718.020.232.012.1-8.8-4.2%Season summary
Alabama198012102083.3%#2#626.828.736.27.7+0.4-16.7%Season summary
Alabama1979121200100.0%#2#126.427.335.68.6+0.1+8.3%Season summary
Alabama197812111091.7%#1#126.333.942.08.2-2.20.0%Season summary
Alabama197712111091.7%#6#228.532.541.39.3+7.1+16.7%Season summary
Alabama19761293075.0%#6#1121.426.035.710.7-5.2-16.7%Season summary
Alabama197512111091.7%#2#326.628.836.27.2+0.80.0%Season summary
Alabama197412111091.7%#4#525.829.535.76.6-5.70.0%Season summary
Alabama197312111091.7%#6#431.532.644.613.1+0.4+8.3%Season summary
Alabama197212102083.3%#7#731.131.843.011.6-1.9-8.3%Season summary
Alabama197112111091.7%#16#433.037.042.16.5+15.6+37.5%Season summary
Alabama19701265154.2%#16—17.419.739.221.3+4.9-0.4%Season summary
Alabama19691165054.5%#13—12.5———-1.3-18.2%Season summary
Alabama19681183072.7%#10#1713.8———-1.7-4.5%Season summary
Alabama19671182177.3%#2#815.5———-13.0-22.7%Season summary
Alabama1966111100100.0%#1#328.5———+4.0+13.6%Season summary
Alabama19651191186.4%#5#124.5———+3.2-4.5%Season summary
Alabama196411101090.9%#6#121.3———+1.3+9.1%Season summary
Alabama19631192081.8%#3#820.0———-9.0-9.1%Season summary
Alabama196211101090.9%#3#529.0———+1.4-9.1%Season summary
Alabama1961111100100.0%#3#127.6———+11.8+18.2%Season summary
Alabama19601181281.8%—#915.8———+4.8+9.1%Season summary
Alabama19591172272.7%—#1011.0———+0.7+17.7%Season summary
Alabama19581054155.0%——10.3———-6.7-17.7%Season summary
Texas A&M19571183072.7%#2#917.0———-4.0-22.3%Season summary
Texas A&M19561090195.0%#9#521.0———+3.1+20.0%Season summary
Texas A&M19551072175.0%—#1717.9———+15.4+65.0%Season summary
Texas A&M19541019010.0%——2.5———-13.3-65.0%Season summary
Kentucky19531072175.0%—#1615.8———+7.5+20.4%Season summary
Kentucky19521154254.5%—#208.3———-12.3-12.1%Season summary
Kentucky19511284066.7%#6#1520.6———-4.2-25.0%Season summary
Kentucky195012111091.7%#13#724.8———+6.1+16.7%Season summary
Kentucky19491293075.0%—#1118.7———+6.8+15.0%Season summary
Kentucky19481053260.0%——11.9———-2.7-12.7%Season summary
Kentucky19471183072.7%——14.6———-0.3+2.7%Season summary
Kentucky19461073070.0%——14.9———+17.6-2.2%Season summary
Maryland1945962172.2%——-2.7—————Season summary

Similar coaches

Popular comparisons are fan-facing matchups. Statistical comps are matched by style, strength band, volatility band, peak range, and career length.

Popular comps

Bear Bryant vs Nick Saban

Statistical comps

Nick Saban

same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.1

Balanced

Avg SRS 19.8 • Peak SRS 33.6 • 28 seasons

Best finish #1 • Volatility 9.9

Open profile →

Bobby Bowden

same balanced identity • volatility within 1.1

Balanced

Avg SRS 17.0 • Peak SRS 30.5 • 40 seasons

Best finish #1 • Volatility 9.1

Open profile →

Woody Hayes

same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.7

Balanced

Avg SRS 18.9 • Peak SRS 36.3 • 28 seasons

Best finish #1 • Volatility 8.2

Open profile →

Henry Williams

same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.3

Balanced

Avg SRS 20.0 • Peak SRS 42.5 • 23 seasons

Best finish Unranked • Volatility 10.5

Open profile →

John Vaught

same balanced identity • avg SRS within 1.4

Balanced

Avg SRS 18.2 • Peak SRS 34.2 • 25 seasons

Best finish #2 • Volatility 7.5

Open profile →

Pop Warner

same balanced identity

Balanced

Avg SRS 16.3 • Peak SRS 41.4 • 42 seasons

Best finish Unranked • Volatility 10.4

Open profile →