The 2025-26 college golf season is complete, which means it’s time for postseason awards.
The top-ranked teams in the country took home the trophies on both the men’s and women’s side at Omni La Costa, where the championships were contested for the third time in what’s currently a five-year contract.
However, when it comes to the Coach of the Year conversation, there are two who stood out among the rest, and they’ve been selected as the Golfweek 2026 Coaches of the Year.
Golfweek selects men’s and women’s All-America teams and honorable mention selections, as well as Players of the Year and Coaches of the Year. All-America selections were released Wednesday, and Player of the Year honorees will be announced Friday.
Golfweek’s 2025-26 Men’s College Golf All-AmericansGolfweek’s 2025-26 Women’s College Golf All-AmericansVirginia’s Ben James tops PGA Tour University Class of 2026, full rankings and statusFueled by history, Oklahoma State’s Preston Stout makes his own as NCAA individual champGreatest of all-time? Stanford stakes its claim after latest NCAA Women’s Golf titleCollege golf coaches job blog: News from around coaching community for 2026
Here’s a look at Golfweek‘s 2026 Coaches of the Year and a look at past winners:Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
Golfweek 2026 Men’s College Golf Coach of the Year: Armen Kirakossian, UCLA
In late March when UCLA showed up to The Goodwin, the Bruins were below .500 and in danger of missing the NCAA postseason. Kirakossian helped spark a turnaround, and UCLA finished second that week. Then the Bruins won the Big 10 Championship, finished seventh after stroke play at NCAAs, earned their first match-play wins at the national championship and then finished as national runners-up. All of that in the span of 67 days. A truly incredible turnaround for the fourth-year head coach guiding a young team.
“Anytime you can be recognized amongst your peers and be named Coach of the Year is a huge honor,” Kirakossian said. This wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing effort from our team and players. I have never seen a group rally and come together like they did this spring. They were the full embodiment of what it means to play for something greater than themselves. This isn’t a one-man coaching staff; so many people at UCLA work tirelessly to make moments and seasons like this happen.
“Mason Banger, our assistant coach, preaches visualization and without his relentless belief in this group, we certainly wouldn’t have had the success we did. It’s no mystery that college athletics is changing and we couldn’t do what we do without the support of our administration, thank you for putting us in a position to succeed.”
Golfweek 2026 Women’s College Golf Coach of the Year: Josh Brewer, Eastern Michigan
Two years ago, Brewer took over an Eastern Michigan team ranked 226th. This year, the No. 27 Eagles made their first NCAA postseason appearance and not only advance to the national championship but made it into match play and into the national semifinals before falling to eventual champion Stanford. The school and boosters backed Brewer, and he constructed a mid-major team that operated like a Power-4 program and became one of the best stories in college golf this season.
“It is an amazing honor that simply says I am surrounded by successful people,” Brewer said. “This award goes to Eastern Michigan and GameAbove for giving me the opportunity to lead their women’s golf program. It belongs to the players and their families who believed we were capable of competing at the highest level when we only had a vision to sell them. Lastly it goes to my family for always supporting me and allowing me to do something that has never felt like work.”
Past men’s winners
- 2025 – Chris Malloy, Ole Miss
- 2024 – Nick Clinard, Auburn
- 2023 – Mike Small, Illinois
- 2022 – John Fields, Texas
- 2021 – Mike Small, Illinois
- 2020 – None
- 2019 – Conrad Ray, Stanford
- 2018 – Alan Bratton, Oklahoma State
- 2017 – Casey Martin, Oregon
- 2016 – John Fields, Texas
- 2015 – Chuck Winstead, LSU
- 2014 – Alan Murray, UAB
- 2013 – Steve Desimone, California
- 2012 – John Fields, Texas
- 2011 – Mike McGraw, Oklahoma State
- 2010 – Josh Gregory, Augusta State
- 2009 – Matt Thurmond, Washington
- 2008 – Chris Zambri, USC
- 2007 – Conrad Ray, Stanford
- 2006 – Mike McGraw, Oklahoma State
- 2005 – Rod Myers, Duke
- 2004 – Steve Desimone, California
- 2003 – Larry Penley, Clemson
- 2002 – Bruce Heppler, Georgia Tech
- 2001 – Buddy Alexander, Florida
- 2000 – Mike Holder, Oklahoma State
- 1999 – Chris Haack, Georgia
