Penn State Football: Bill O’Brien a Finalist for Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award

Penn State coach Bill O’Brien is one of six candidates for the 2012 Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award, it was announced Tuesday.

O’Brien is joined by James Franklin (Vanderbilt), Urban Meyer (Ohio State), David Shaw (Stanford), Bill Snyder (Kansas State) and Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M) on the list of finalists.

The winner will be announced Jan. 17 in Houston.

End of season recognition has been a constant all offseason for O’Brien, the Big Ten Coach of the Year.

He is also among six candidates for the Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year, presented annually to a person from the Pittsburgh area who made the most outstanding accomplishment in sports during the past year. He is joined by Pittsburgh defensive lineman Aaron Donald, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, Steelers tight end Heath Miller and Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as finalists for that award.

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