Miami Ohio University Athletics
Steele Named Naismith Semifinalist
3/21/2026 2:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, Ohio – Miami University head men's basketball coach Travis Steele was named a 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year Semifinalist, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced this week.
Steele, along with nine other semifinalists for the award, will find out who advances as a finalist on Friday, March 27. Only four coaches will be named a finalist for the award.
Steele earns yet another national recognition after propelling Miami into the Top 25 rankings for the first time since Feb. 15, 1999. Miami climbed as high as No. 19 as its winning streak grew, the team's highest ranking since March 13, 1978. Miami (32-2) set a new program record for wins in a season, breaking the mark of 25 established last year. The RedHawks also hold the program record for the most consecutive home wins overall (31) and road wins overall (15). Miami has secured the best start for a program in MAC history, the most consecutive conference wins in MAC history and the longest win streak in MAC history. The RedHawks are just the fifth program this century (NCAA Division I) to go undefeated during regular season play.
Full Name
School
Conference
Mark Byington
Vanderbilt
SEC
Todd Golden
Florida
SEC
Fred Hoiberg
Nebraska
Big Ten
Tom Izzo
Michigan State
Big Ten
Tommy Lloyd
Arizona
Big 12
Dusty May
Michigan
Big Ten
Ryan Odom
Virginia
ACC
T.J. Otzelberger
Iowa State
Big 12
Jon Scheyer
Duke
ACC
Travis Steele
Miami University
MAC
