Five coaches have been named finalists for the 2026 NAIA Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award presented by Golf Pride Grips. Missouri Valley’s Stephen Main, Keiser’s Brandon Miller, Reinhardt’s Evans Nichols, Dalton State’s Ben Rickett and Oklahoma City’s Blake Trimble make up this year’s finalist group.

The award recognizes the top men’s golf coach across NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and NJCAA competition.

Main guided Missouri Valley to seven wins in its last nine events during his third season leading the program. The Vikings enter the NAIA Men’s Golf Championship on a four tournament winning streak and captured the Heart of America Conference Championship by 12 shots. Missouri Valley also posted a program record 50 under total at the MVC Fall Invitational.

Miller earned finalist recognition for the sixth time in the last seven years after leading Keiser to six team victories this season. The Seahawks held the No. 1 ranking in every Scoreboard powered by Clippd poll and won four of their final five events entering nationals, including the Sun Conference Championship by 24 shots.

Nichols helped Reinhardt secure four victories and nine top five finishes this season. The Eagles won the AAC Direct Qualifier by 34 shots and claimed three fall tournament titles. Nichols also received AAC Coach of the Year honors for the second straight season.

Rickett’s Dalton State squad won five of its final seven tournaments, including three straight entering the national championship. The Roadrunners also secured a fourth consecutive SSAC Championship while Rickett collected his eighth career conference coach of the year award.

Trimble led Oklahoma City to six victories during the season, highlighted by the program’s first Sooner Athletic Conference Championship since 2021. The Stars won five of their last eight tournaments and finished the year ranked second nationally.

All five finalists are coaching this week at the NAIA Men’s Golf Championship at TPC Deere Run in Illinois.

Source: GCAA Release