Bishop Named Coach Paul W. Bryant Professor of Education at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Phil Bishop, professor of kinesiology at The University of Alabama, has been appointed to the inaugural Coach Paul W. Bryant Endowed Professorship in the UA College of Education.

A member of the UA faculty since 1984, Bishop studies problems of environmental and work physiology and physiological measurement. As director of the Human Performance Lab, he has brought in nearly $1 million in research funding over his career. His research has ranged from studying the effects of different variables on hydration to the impact of protective clothing such as bioterrorism suits on physical reactions to ergonomics.

He has served as a visiting research scientist or professor for the U.S. Military Academy, the Johnson Space Center, the U.S. Army Biomedical Research and Development Lab, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, and the New Chalcedonia (formerly the Queen’s) College in Scotland.

“Phil Bishop is a coach for students in much the same way that Coach Bryant was a coach to the Crimson Tide. He expected more and got more from them than they, themselves, thought they could give. He is an excellent choice as the first holder of the Coach Paul W. Bryant Professorship,” said Dr. James McLean, dean of the UA College of Education.

Robert “Bud” Moore, who played on Bryant’s first team at UA, and other friends established the professorship to honor the memory of the legendary UA football coach, who inspired many student athletes to pursue a career of teaching and coaching young people, and to promote faculty excellence in UA’s College of Education.

Bryant earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from the College of Education while he played football for UA. When he returned to the University as head coach, he led the Crimson Tide to six national championships, 12 SEC championships, and participated in 24 consecutive bowl games. In 1982, he was the “winningest” coach to date with 315 wins.

Bishop’s research has published in numerous academic and professional publications including the Journal of Exercise Physiology; European Journal of Applied Physiology; Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research; American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal; and the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics.

Bishop earned his bachelor’s degree in oceanography from the U.S. Naval Academy; his master’s in physical education and higher education from James Madison University; and his doctorate in exercise physiology from the University of Georgia.