SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State head football coach GJ Kinne, who has guided the Bobcats to their best start in the program's FBS history in his first year at the helm, has been named to the American Heart Association's 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Watch List, the organization announced on Tuesday.
 
Kinne is one of 26 coaches on the list of current coaches in consideration for the annual top honor.
 
In his first 10 months on the job, Kinne has taken the Bobcats to a tie at the top of the Sun Belt West Division standings at the halfway point of the season. Texas State is thriving in all three phases as it boasts an offense that is 10th in the nation in total offense, 11th in scoring, and 14th in rushing. The defense, meanwhile, is second in the country in tackles for loss and 10th in sacks. As for special teams, it is 14th in the nation in kick returns.
 
Texas State is one of 39 teams in the country with five wins and is tied with Troy for the lead in the Sun Belt West Division thanks to a 2-1 conference record. It is the first time the Bobcats have started their conference schedule with two wins in the first three games since 2014.
 
Kinne and Texas State started the season with a 42-31 win at Baylor, which was the Bobcats' first win over a "Power 5" conference team. Now midway through October, the Bobcats are one win away from becoming bowl eligible and moving one step closer to securing their first bowl invite in program history.
 
With a roster of 53 scholarship newcomers and 11 returning starters, Kinne's 5-2 start to his Texas State coaching career is the best by a Bobcat leader since 1983.
 
The Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award is given each January 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.
 
Now in its 38th year, the Coach of the Year award winner will be announced live from Houston's Post Oak Hotel on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, during an awards ceremony presented by Marathon Oil. The watch list, finalists and Coach of the Year recipient are voted on by the National Sports Media Association, the Bryant Awards' Executive Leadership Team and the Bryant family.
 
In addition to the Coach of the Year, the Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards will also present conference coach of the year awards from each of the Power Five conferences and one from the Group of Five conferences.
 
Texas State is in its bye week and returns to action on Oct. 28 when it hosts Troy in a battle for first-place in the Sun Belt West Division. Kickoff for the Homecoming and Throwback game is set for 6 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium. Tickets are available at TXST.com/tickets.
 
The 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List includes:
 
"Group of Five" Conferences

• Troy Calhoun – Air Force (Mountain West)
• Curt Cignetti – JMU (Sun Belt)
• Jamey Chadwell – Liberty (CUSA)
• Willie Fritz – Tulane (AAC)
• GJ Kinne – Texas State (Sun Belt)

 
ACC

• Jeff Brohm – Louisville
• Mack Brown – North Carolina
• Mike Elko – Duke
• Mike Norvell – Florida State

 
Big Ten

• Ryan Day – Ohio State
• James Franklin – Penn State
• Jim Harbaugh – Michigan
• Mike Locksley – Maryland

 
Big 12

• Lance Leipold – Kansas
• Steve Sarkisian – Texas
• Brent Venables – Oklahoma

 
Pac-12

• Kalen DeBoer – Washington
• Dan Lanning – Oregon
• Lincoln Riley – USC
• Deion Sanders – Colorado
• Jonathan Smith – Oregon State

 
SEC

• Eli Drinkwitz – Missouri
• Lane Kiffin – Ole Miss
• Nick Saban – Alabama
• Kirby Smart – Georgia
• Mark Stoops – Kentucky