Head Coachwas named to the Paul "Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year Watch List, as the American Heart Association and Marathon Oil announced on Wednesday. Mullen, in his first season with the Gators as head coach, is one of two FBS coaches in his first season to already reach six wins and Florida is one of three teams who finished 2017 with a sub-.500 record who have already won six games. Florida is the only team ranked in the top-15 in the AP Poll who finished the 2017 season with an under .500 record.  The Gators are currently ranked 11in the AP Poll. Mullen has also boosted the Gators scoring offense from 108in the country to 37this season and the total offense has moved from 110th in 2017 to 67He is also building a program around the "Gator Standard", which is not only about winning SEC championships, but national championships and expecting the team to be one that Florida fans can be proud of on the field on Saturdays and in the community. Now in its 33rd year, the Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award recognizes the country's top college football coaches for their contributions both on and off the field.  The Coach of the Year Award is the only college coaching honor selected after all bowl games are concluded and is voted on by the National Sports Media Association. The Watch List precedes the announcement of the finalists in December.  The winner will be announced live on Jan. 9, 2019 during the awards dinner and ceremony at the Post Oak Hotel in Houston.