Coach: The Life of Paul "Bear" Bryant

by Keith Dunnavant

The definitive portrait of Paul “Bear” Bryant, the most successful college football coach in history.Just five weeks after coaching his final football game for the University of Alabama, Paul “Bear” Bryant passed away. The impact he had on the state of Alabama and the entire college football world cannot be overstated. For twenty-five years as the head coach of the Crimson Tide, and thirteen years before that at Maryland, Kentucky, and Texas A&M, Bear Bryant’s outsized personality and deep charisma made him the dominant figure in the world of college football, turning boys with ordinary talent but extraordinary heart into winners—both on the gridiron and off. At Alabama, Bear Bryant would go on to become the winningest coach of all time, achieving the best record in the country in both the 60s and 70s. He is the only coach to win national championships with both segregated teams and integrated ones. His secret lay not in any strategic brilliance he brought to the game, but in his gift for molding individual talents into a cohesive unit that could achieve far more than the sum of its parts would suggest. That ability made him a great coach, but to many, Bryant represented more than just a He was everything a southern gentleman was supposed to be—tough, principled, charismatic, modest in victory yet quick to assume blame in defeat, and as mindful of where he’d come from as where he was going. Coach is not only about the man and his tremendous ability to succeed, it’s also a tribute to the South and the legacy Coach Bryant left behind. In a divisive era, Bryant gave Alabamians something to be proud of. And, he was simply the greatest football coach of all times.

Genres: Sports, Football, Nonfiction, Biography

389 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 1996

Reviews

[Linda Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really excited about getting my own copy of this book.. It's a great history of Bear Bryant

[Scott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) This was a book that I have been reading off-and-on for over a year. I have wanted to get further insight into the life and actions of perhaps the greatest coach in college football history. You sort of get that, at least the insights into the man before he coached at Alabama. However, once he comes to 'Bama, this work is primarily focused on his coaching and on-field actions. You don't quite get the analysis you might hope about the man behind the houndstooth hat. For the non-'Bama fan, there is much to learn. However, this work does leave you wanting more. Worth a library checkout, if you can find it.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great story about a great man. Keith Dunnavant did a remarkable job of showing both his perfections and imperfections. Bryant had one speed and that was all out. I found it interesting that Kenny Stabler gave him more trouble than Joe Nameth. The Bears scholarship program was maybe the most interesting fact I learned. Dunnavant was a testimony to his greatness!

[Valerie Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this for my father in law who is a football fanatic. He loved it!

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me way too long to finish it. Different era, different world, struggled to relate.

[Jacob Milham · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my most worn books from my time overseas, depicting a pretty favorable yet informative look at one of college football's greatest names.

[Hollis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone interested in the biographical highlights of Coach Bryant's career will enjoy this book. Most striking to me was information showing that late in his career, Bryant's deteriorating health and chase of Amos Alonzo Stagg's record for victories helped lead to years of tumult in the Alabama program.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done! A shorter version of Coach Bryant's life than the more recent work by Allen Barra, but still well told and with more evaluation of Bryant's philosophy and impact. Coach Bryant is a legend and Keith Dunnavant has offered a fair and well written assessment of the MAN!

[Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent, well-balanced approach to one of college football's most fascinating men. Dunnavant does a good job at bringing the Bear to life, showing his personality both on and off the field, and examining him in his historical context.