Coach: The Life of Paul "Bear" Bryant

by Keith Dunnavant

"Revised & Updated" More than two decades after his death, Paul "Bear" Bryant's imposing shadow still towers over the sport of college football.
For twenty-five years at the University of Alabama, and thirteen years before that at Maryland, Kentucky, and Texas A&M, Bryant pushed his players to excel with a combination of charisma and fear, winning 323 games and six national championships.
In this definitive portrait of a rough-hewn man with an extraordinary gift for leadership, Keith Dunnavant shows how Bryant survived headline-grabbing controversies and the vagaries of a changing social landscape to become college football's greatest coach and the foremost Southern icon of his time.
Coach is the epic story of a larger-than-life figure who overcame poverty and insecurity with intense desire and steely will, reflecting the transformational power of the American experience while emerging as a beacon of pride for Alabamians who felt defensive about their place in the world. Praise for Coach "The definitive Bear Bryant biography.... The first serious attempt to portray Bryant as he really was...."
---John Pruett, The Huntsville Times "Bryant's story says volumes about America and that story is very ably told by Dunnavant...."
---Geoffrey Norman, American Way Magazine "Balanced and intelligent."
--- Kirkus Reviews "A masterful job."
--- The Christian Science Monitor "Dunnavant skillfully raised my eyebrows...[in] a robust and revealing biography of college football's greatest coach."
---Paul Finebaum, Birmingham Post-Herald "A thoroughly captivating read."
---Larry Woody, The (Nashville) Tennessean "Thanks to Dunnavant, the Bear has a biography that does him justice."
--- The Sporting News

Genres: Sports, Football, Nonfiction, Biography

320 pages, Paperback

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.