Top 25
43-45-1
- Games
- 89
- Win rate
- 48.9%
Coach Profile
1945-1982 • Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Texas A&M
4 schools coached, anchored by Alabama.
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.
Career Dossier
The profile below keeps the headline numbers visible, then moves into tenure shape, school impact, and full season detail.
Primary school anchor
Alabama
Balanced profile with 4 program stops and a peak score of 98.2.
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.
Active comparison point
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.
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.
Top 25
43-45-1
Top 10
22-26
Top 5
6-15
| 1982 Regular Week 10 | Alabama | LSU | #11 | L10-20 |
| 1982 Regular Week 6 | Alabama | Penn State | #3 | W42-21 |
| 1981 Regular Week 11 | Alabama | Penn State | #5 | W31-16 |
| 1981 Regular Week 9 | Alabama | Mississippi State | #7 | W13-10 |
| 1981 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Texas | #2 | L12-14 |
| 1980 Regular Week 12 | Alabama | Notre Dame | #2 | L0-7 |
| 1980 Regular Week 10 | Alabama | Mississippi State | #19 | L3-6 |
| 1980 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Baylor | #14 | W30-2 |
| 1979 Regular Week 14 | Alabama | Auburn | #17 | W25-18 |
| 1979 Regular Week 8 | Alabama | Tennessee | #19 | W27-17 |
| 1979 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Arkansas | #8 | W24-9 |
| 1978 Regular Week 11 | Alabama | LSU | #17 | W31-10 |
| 1978 Regular Week 4 | Alabama | USC | #3 | L14-24 |
| 1978 Regular Week 3 | Alabama | Missouri | #17 | W38-20 |
| 1978 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Penn State | #4 | W14-7 |
| 1977 Regular Week 6 | Alabama | USC | #6 | W21-20 |
| 1977 Regular Week 3 | Alabama | Nebraska | #14 | L24-31 |
| 1977 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Ohio State | #11 | W35-6 |
| 1976 Regular Week 11 | Alabama | Notre Dame | #13 | L18-21 |
| 1976 Regular Week 5 | Alabama | Georgia | #4 | L0-21 |
| 1976 Regular Week 2 | Alabama | Ole Miss | #20 | L7-10 |
| 1976 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | UCLA | #15 | W36-6 |
| 1975 Regular Week 7 | Alabama | Tennessee | #16 | W30-7 |
| 1975 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Penn State | #10 | W13-6 |
| 1974 Regular Week 13 | Alabama | Auburn | #7 | W17-13 |
| 1974 Regular Week 9 | Alabama | Mississippi State | #17 | W35-0 |
| 1974 Regular Week 2 | Alabama | Maryland | #14 | W21-16 |
| 1974 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Notre Dame | #6 | L11-13 |
| 1973 Regular Week 13 | Alabama | LSU | #8 | W21-7 |
| 1973 Regular Week 8 | Alabama | Tennessee | #14 | W42-21 |
| 1973 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Notre Dame | #1 | L23-24 |
| 1972 Regular Week 13 | Alabama | Auburn | #9 | L16-17 |
| 1972 Regular Week 10 | Alabama | LSU | #6 | W35-21 |
| 1972 Regular Week 7 | Alabama | Tennessee | #10 | W17-10 |
| 1972 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Texas | #3 | L13-17 |
| 1971 Regular Week 12 | Alabama | Auburn | #5 | W31-7 |
| 1971 Regular Week 9 | Alabama | LSU | #18 | W14-7 |
| 1971 Regular Week 6 | Alabama | Tennessee | #14 | W32-15 |
| 1971 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Nebraska | #1 | L6-38 |
| 1970 Regular Week 14 | Alabama | Auburn | #10 | L28-33 |
| 1970 Regular Week 11 | Alabama | LSU | #7 | L9-14 |
| 1970 Regular Week 9 | Alabama | Houston | #18 | W30-21 |
| 1970 Regular Week 8 | Alabama | Tennessee | #9 | L0-24 |
| 1970 Regular Week 6 | Alabama | Ole Miss | #4 | L23-48 |
| 1970 Regular Week 3 | Alabama | USC | #7 | L21-42 |
| 1970 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Oklahoma | #20 | T24-24 |
| 1969 Regular Week 12 | Alabama | Auburn | #11 | L26-49 |
| 1969 Regular Week 9 | Alabama | LSU | #12 | L15-20 |
| 1969 Regular Week 6 | Alabama | Tennessee | #3 | L14-41 |
| 1969 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Colorado | #16 | L33-47 |
| 1968 Regular Week 12 | Alabama | Auburn | #18 | W24-16 |
| 1968 Regular Week 9 | Alabama | LSU | #20 | W16-7 |
| 1968 Regular Week 6 | Alabama | Tennessee | #8 | L9-10 |
| 1968 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Missouri | #9 | L10-35 |
| 1967 Regular Week 7 | Alabama | Tennessee | #4 | L13-24 |
| 1966 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Nebraska | #6 | W34-7 |
| 1965 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Nebraska | #5 | W39-28 |
| 1964 Regular Week 9 | Alabama | LSU | #8 | W17-9 |
| 1964 Regular Week 7 | Alabama | Florida | #9 | W17-14 |
| 1964 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Texas | #5 | L17-21 |
| 1963 Regular Week 12 | Alabama | Auburn | #5 | L8-10 |
| 1963 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Ole Miss | #7 | W12-7 |
| 1962 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Oklahoma | #8 | W17-0 |
| 1961 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Arkansas | #9 | W10-3 |
| 1960 Regular Week 6 | Alabama | Tennessee | #12 | L7-20 |
| 1959 Regular Week 2 | Alabama | Georgia | #17 | L3-17 |
| 1959 Postseason Week 1 | Alabama | Penn State | #12 | L0-7 |
| 1958 Regular Week 3 | Alabama | LSU | #13 | L3-13 |
| 1957 Regular Week 10 | Texas A&M | Rice | #13 | L6-7 |
| 1957 Regular Week 8 | Texas A&M | Arkansas | #12 | W7-6 |
| 1957 Postseason Week 1 | Texas A&M | Tennessee | #13 | L0-3 |
| 1956 Regular Week 7 | Texas A&M | Baylor | #15 | W19-13 |
| 1956 Regular Week 6 | Texas A&M | TCU | #10 | W7-6 |
| 1955 Regular Week 6 | Texas A&M | Baylor | #16 | W19-7 |
| 1955 Regular Week 5 | Texas A&M | TCU | #7 | W19-16 |
| 1955 Regular Week 2 | Texas A&M | LSU | #16 | W28-0 |
| 1954 Regular Week 7 | Texas A&M | Arkansas | #4 | L7-14 |
| 1954 Regular Week 1 | Texas A&M | Texas Tech | #19 | L9-41 |
| 1953 Regular Week 2 | Kentucky | Ole Miss | #15 | L6-22 |
| 1952 Regular Week 2 | Kentucky | Villanova | #12 | L6-25 |
| 1951 Regular Week 4 | Kentucky | Georgia Tech | #5 | L7-13 |
| 1951 Regular Week 2 | Kentucky | Texas | #6 | L6-7 |
| 1951 Postseason Week 1 | Kentucky | TCU | #11 | W20-7 |
| 1950 Postseason Week 1 | Kentucky | Oklahoma | #1 | W13-7 |
| 1949 Regular Week 7 | Kentucky | SMU | #10 | L7-20 |
| 1949 Postseason Week 1 | Kentucky | Santa Clara | #15 | L13-21 |
| 1948 Regular Week 5 | Kentucky | Georgia | #13 | L12-35 |
| 1947 Regular Week 8 | Kentucky | Alabama | #6 | L0-13 |
| 1946 Regular Week 5 | Kentucky | Georgia | #3 | L13-28 |
Each stint expands by seasons coached. Deeper color signals a stronger average SRS over that stretch.
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%
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.
Start with total quality before splitting style and variance.
Bear Bryant sets the reference point in overall strength.
Bear Bryant sets the reference point in overall strength.
Normalized score; raw SP overall stays underneath for reference.
Bear Bryant
Elite
Elite
Normalized against the full tracked coach pool.
See how each stint compared with what that program usually looked like outside that same span.
1958-1982 • 232-46-9
Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).
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%
1954-1957 • 25-14-2
Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).
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%
1946-1953 • 60-23-5
Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (4 baseline seasons found).
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%
1945-1945 • 6-2-1
Compared with this school's baseline outside that stint over the prior 5 seasons (5 baseline seasons found).
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%
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
Worst Season
Maryland 1945
6-2-1 • SRS -2.7
Biggest Drop
Texas A&M 1954
1-9 • -13.3 SRS
Full transparency into every season in the coaching record. Positive YoY values indicate improvement from the prior season.
| Alabama | 1982 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 66.7% | #3 | — | 18.6 | 20.4 | 37.8 | 18.4 | +0.6 | -12.5% |
| Alabama | 1981 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 79.2% | #4 | #7 | 18.0 | 20.2 | 32.0 | 12.1 | -8.8 | -4.2% |
| Alabama | 1980 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 83.3% | #2 | #6 | 26.8 | 28.7 | 36.2 | 7.7 | +0.4 | -16.7% |
| Alabama | 1979 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | #2 | #1 | 26.4 | 27.3 | 35.6 | 8.6 | +0.1 | +8.3% |
| Alabama | 1978 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 91.7% | #1 | #1 | 26.3 | 33.9 | 42.0 | 8.2 | -2.2 | 0.0% |
| Alabama | 1977 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 91.7% | #6 | #2 | 28.5 | 32.5 | 41.3 | 9.3 | +7.1 | +16.7% |
| Alabama | 1976 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% | #6 | #11 | 21.4 | 26.0 | 35.7 | 10.7 | -5.2 | -16.7% |
| Alabama | 1975 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 91.7% | #2 | #3 | 26.6 | 28.8 | 36.2 | 7.2 | +0.8 | 0.0% |
| Alabama | 1974 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 91.7% | #4 | #5 | 25.8 | 29.5 | 35.7 | 6.6 | -5.7 | 0.0% |
| Alabama | 1973 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 91.7% | #6 | #4 | 31.5 | 32.6 | 44.6 | 13.1 | +0.4 | +8.3% |
| Alabama | 1972 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 83.3% | #7 | #7 | 31.1 | 31.8 | 43.0 | 11.6 | -1.9 | -8.3% |
| Alabama | 1971 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 91.7% | #16 | #4 | 33.0 | 37.0 | 42.1 | 6.5 | +15.6 | +37.5% |
| Alabama | 1970 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 54.2% | #16 | — | 17.4 | 19.7 | 39.2 | 21.3 | +4.9 | -0.4% |
| Alabama | 1969 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 54.5% | #13 | — | 12.5 | — | — | — | -1.3 | -18.2% |
| Alabama | 1968 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 72.7% | #10 | #17 | 13.8 | — | — | — | -1.7 | -4.5% |
| Alabama | 1967 | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 77.3% | #2 | #8 | 15.5 | — | — | — | -13.0 | -22.7% |
| Alabama | 1966 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | #1 | #3 | 28.5 | — | — | — | +4.0 | +13.6% |
| Alabama | 1965 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 86.4% | #5 | #1 | 24.5 | — | — | — | +3.2 | -4.5% |
| Alabama | 1964 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 90.9% | #6 | #1 | 21.3 | — | — | — | +1.3 | +9.1% |
| Alabama | 1963 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 81.8% | #3 | #8 | 20.0 | — | — | — | -9.0 | -9.1% |
| Alabama | 1962 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 90.9% | #3 | #5 | 29.0 | — | — | — | +1.4 | -9.1% |
| Alabama | 1961 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | #3 | #1 | 27.6 | — | — | — | +11.8 | +18.2% |
| Alabama | 1960 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 81.8% | — | #9 | 15.8 | — | — | — | +4.8 | +9.1% |
| Alabama | 1959 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 72.7% | — | #10 | 11.0 | — | — | — | +0.7 | +17.7% |
| Alabama | 1958 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 55.0% | — | — | 10.3 | — | — | — | -6.7 | -17.7% |
| Texas A&M | 1957 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 72.7% | #2 | #9 | 17.0 | — | — | — | -4.0 | -22.3% |
| Texas A&M | 1956 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 95.0% | #9 | #5 | 21.0 | — | — | — | +3.1 | +20.0% |
| Texas A&M | 1955 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 75.0% | — | #17 | 17.9 | — | — | — | +15.4 | +65.0% |
| Texas A&M | 1954 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 10.0% | — | — | 2.5 | — | — | — | -13.3 | -65.0% |
| Kentucky | 1953 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 75.0% | — | #16 | 15.8 | — | — | — | +7.5 | +20.4% |
| Kentucky | 1952 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 54.5% | — | #20 | 8.3 | — | — | — | -12.3 | -12.1% |
| Kentucky | 1951 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 66.7% | #6 | #15 | 20.6 | — | — | — | -4.2 | -25.0% |
| Kentucky | 1950 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 91.7% | #13 | #7 | 24.8 | — | — | — | +6.1 | +16.7% |
| Kentucky | 1949 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 75.0% | — | #11 | 18.7 | — | — | — | +6.8 | +15.0% |
| Kentucky | 1948 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 60.0% | — | — | 11.9 | — | — | — | -2.7 | -12.7% |
| Kentucky | 1947 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 72.7% | — | — | 14.6 | — | — | — | -0.3 | +2.7% |
| Kentucky | 1946 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 70.0% | — | — | 14.9 | — | — | — | +17.6 | -2.2% |
| Maryland | 1945 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 72.2% | — | — | -2.7 | — | — | — | — | — |
Related profiles are matched by style, strength band, volatility band, peak range, and career length.
same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.1
Avg SRS 19.8 • Peak SRS 33.6 • 28 seasons
Best finish #1 • Volatility 9.9
Open profile →same balanced identity • volatility within 1.1
Avg SRS 17.0 • Peak SRS 30.5 • 40 seasons
Best finish #1 • Volatility 9.1
Open profile →same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.7
Avg SRS 18.9 • Peak SRS 36.3 • 28 seasons
Best finish #1 • Volatility 8.2
Open profile →same balanced identity • avg SRS within 0.3
Avg SRS 20.0 • Peak SRS 42.5 • 23 seasons
Best finish Unranked • Volatility 10.5
Open profile →same balanced identity • avg SRS within 1.4
Avg SRS 18.2 • Peak SRS 34.2 • 25 seasons
Best finish #2 • Volatility 7.5
Open profile →same balanced identity
Avg SRS 16.3 • Peak SRS 41.4 • 42 seasons
Best finish Unranked • Volatility 10.4
Open profile →