HOUSTON, Texas. - Head coach Bill O'Brien added a piece of hardware to his collection on Thursday night after being named Bear Bryant Coach of the Year, his third national honor for his efforts in 2012.

O'Brien traveled to Houston on Thursday where he was one of six finalists for the award.  After media interviews and a reception with more than 50 members of the Houston Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, the Nittany Lion head coach attended the awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency with a crowd of more than 650 people.

Each finalist addressed the crowd, along with Lifetime Achievement Recipient and former BYU head coaching great LaVell Edwards, before O'Brien was announced as the award winner to a resounding ovation.  Coach O'Brien, who was truly honored and humbled to receive the award, immediately thanked the coaching staff and Penn State players for their efforts in 2012.

His peers in attendance, including Vanderbilt's James Franklin, Stanford's David Shaw, Kansas State's Bill Snyder and Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin each, individually made an effort to walk up to O'Brien and congratulate him for his efforts during the course of the day.  Watch behind the scenes footage from the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year trip and hear Coach O'Brien's acceptance speech after winning the national award.

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