One coach will receive prestigious award for excellence on Thursday, January 17

HOUSTON, Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Heart Association, an organization devoted to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke, announced today the 2012 Coach of the Year finalists for the Marathon Oil Corporation Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards.  The 2012 Coach of the Year finalists are James Franklin, Vanderbilt; Urban Meyer, Ohio State; Bill O'Brien, Penn State; David Shaw, Stanford; Bill Snyder, Kansas State University and Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M.

The 27^th annual event slated to take place on Thursday, January 17 in Houston, Texas, will bring together the nation's top performing college coaches and sports enthusiasts to raise funds for heart disease in the name of Paul "Bear" Bryant.  Marathon Oil Corporation is again generously supporting the American Heart Association and serving as the title sponsor of the event.

January's event will also recognize former Brigham Young University Head Football Coach LaVell Edwards, who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes excellence in coaching on and off the field during a career, allowing recipients to take their place in history alongside legends such as Paul "Bear" Bryant.  Recent Lifetime Achievement recipients include Barry Switzer, Vince Dooley, Bobby Bowden and Hayden Fry.

Joining the evening's lineup as keynote speaker will be University of Alabama's Director of Athletics Mal Moore.  During a coaching career that spans 31 years, Moore spent 22 of those at Alabama with stops at Montana State, Notre Dame and the NFL's St. Louis and Phoenix Cardinals. At Alabama, Moore started as Coach Bryant's graduate assistant in 1964, and then was defensive backfield coach for six seasons beginning in 1965.

For the second consecutive year, Becky and Dave Roberts will chair the event. "Becky and I are thrilled to be a part of this annual fundraiser for the American Heart Association, and can't wait to get these coaches in the same room for a good cause," said Roberts.  "The Bryant Awards provide a unique opportunity for college coaches to be evaluated based on their entire year – including the Bowl games.  Since the Coach of the Year award is announced live at the event, it's still very much anyone's game."

Funds raised benefit research, community education and outreach programs of the American Heart Association. For more information and to purchase tickets or a table to the event contact 713-610-5000 or visit www.bryantawards.com.

About American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. Our mission is to build healthier lives by preventing, treating and defeating these diseases – America's No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We fund cutting-edge research, conduct lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocate to protect public health. To learn more or join us in helping all Americans, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.heart.org.

About Marathon Oil Corporation
Marathon Oil is an independent international energy company. Based in Houston, Texas, Marathon Oil had net proved reserves at the end of 2011 of 1.8 billion barrels of oil equivalent in North America, Europe and Africa. For more information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.marathonoil.com.

Media Contact:
Shelly Millwee
American Heart Association
713-610-5041 or shelly.millwee@heart.org

SOURCE American Heart Association Houston Division