Jason J. Molyet Jim Tressel encourages his team during the Fiesta Bowl.

HOUSTON -- Ohio State coach Jim Tressel snapped another victory from Miami coach Larry Coker by winning the Bear Bryant Award as the college football coach of the year.

Coker won the honor a year ago and was a finalist again Thursday night. Tressel took the award this year after the Buckeyes ended Miami's 34-game winning streak with a double-overtime victory in the Fiesta Bowl for the national championship.

Tressel earlier was chosen the American Football Coaches Association coach of the year, and he's still on the banquet circuit between recruiting jaunts.

"There are a few more obligations," Tressel said. "It adds a few things to the calendar but it's worth it."

The Buckeyes beat defending national champion Miami 31-24 in a thrilling double-overtime Fiesta Bowl for the title on Jan. 3.

The Bryant Award is presented by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

The Buckeyes won their first national championship since 1968 in Tressel's second season as head coach.

"When you are at places like Oklahoma or Ohio State, you're expected to get it done your first day on the job," Tressel said. "I thought the first year that we had adequate talent if we did everything right we could be successful.

"The ball bounced right for us early this year. I knew we had to do things almost perfect because I knew we weren't dominant."

Other Bryant Award finalists were Iowa's Kirk Ferentz; former Alabama coach Dennis Franchione, now head coach at Texas A&M; former Washington State coach Mike Price, now coach at Alabama; Georgia's Mark Richt; Southern California's Pete Carroll and Notre Dame's Tyrone Willingham.

Former Arkansas coach Frank Broyles received a lifetime achievement award.

Originally published Friday, January 17, 2003