Sabins Named NCBWA Mike Martin National Coach of the Year
June 12, 2026 01:46 PM | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. (NCBWA) – In the midst of the best season in program history, West Virginia head coach Steve Sabins has been named the 2026 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Mike Martin National Coach of the Year.
The Mountaineers (45-15) have earned the first trip to the NCAA Men's College World Series in program history.
West Virginia was named the No. 16 national seed and hosted an NCAA Regional for the third time. After an opening-round win over Binghamton, the Mountaineers dropped a back-and-forth affair to Kentucky, 11-9. West Virginia stormed back to win the Regional with a victory over Wake Forest and a pair of wins over Kentucky, including a walk-off, 10-inning victory in the decisive Game 7.
The Mountaineers dominated Cal Poly in the Morgantown Super Regional, winning by scores of 12-2 and 17-1 to clinch their first berth to the College World Series.
In just his second season at the helm, Sabins has guided West Virginia to an 89-31 record with back-to-back seasons of 44+ wins. West Virginia also qualified for a Super Regional last year in his debut season.
West Virginia has been perhaps the hottest team in the country since the calendar turned to May, holding a 17-3 record in that span. Sabins has guided West Virginia to a 21-9 Big 12 record, including road series wins over then-No. 22 Arizona State and a sweep at No. 7 Kansas.
Sabins has now helped the Mountaineers to a program record for wins in back-to-back seasons.
"Steve Sabins accomplished what some might have thought impossible 30-40 years ago by qualifying West Virginia for the World Series," NCBWA Executive Director Bo Carter said.
"He helped the Mountaineers win their first Super Regional in history and has inspired his student-athletes, coaches, fans, and college baseball enthusiasts nationwide with his passion for the game and team success on and off the field. The entire NCBWA membership sends congratulations to Steve Sabins."
West Virginia has featured a balanced attack all season, ranking in the top 30 nationally in batting average (.307), ERA (3.79), and fielding percentage (.979). The Mountaineers had the top defense and pitching staff in the Big 12, anchored by dual aces Maxx Yehl (9-2, 2.10 ERA, 105 Ks) and Chansen Cole (10-1, 2.85 ERA, 106 Ks).
The Mountaineers open College World Series play against Troy on Friday at 2 p.m. ET. West Virginia and Troy are joined in Bracket 1 by Ole Miss and No. 5 seed North Carolina.
About the Mike Martin National Coach of the Year Award
The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Coach of the Year Award, introduced in 2008, is voted on by the NCBWA Board of Directors, and chosen from a list that includes all Division I conference coaches of the year and the coaches of the eight NCAA College World Series teams.
In 2020, the NCBWA board of directors voted unanimously to name the annual award after Mike Martin, the winningest head coach in NCAA Division I baseball history after he retired at Florida State in 2019 with a 2,029-736-4 mark over 40 seasons in leading the FSU program from 1980-2019. Martin passed away in February 2024 at age 79.
"When I heard about it," he said with a smile at the time, "I was simply flabbergasted. It is such an honor to have my name associated with this award, and it is a tribute to all the players and coaches who worked with me at Florida State."
"We could not think of any other coach historically to associate a name for this annual award besides coach Mike Martin," said Carter. "He has meant so much to college baseball as it has continued year-by-year to gain additional national popularity.
NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and publicists. Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport's only college media-related organization, founded in 1962.
ALL-TIME WINNERS
2026 – Steve Sabins West Virginia
2025 – Dan Skirka Murray State
2024 – Nick Mingione Kentucky
2023 – Ryan Folmar Oral Roberts
2022 – Link Jarrett Notre Dame
2021 – Tony Vitello Tennessee
2020 – None
2019 – Eric Bakich Michigan
2018 – Gary Henderson Mississippi State
2017 – Pat Casey Oregon State
2016 – Gary Gilmore Coastal Carolina
2015 – Paul Mainieri LSU
2014 – Mike Gillespie UC Irvine
2013 – Tracy Smith Indiana
2012 – Matt Senk Stony Brook
2011 – David Esquer California
2010 – Jim Schlossnagle TCU
2009 – Brian O'Connor Virginia
2008 – Mike Batesole Fresno State
The Mountaineers (45-15) have earned the first trip to the NCAA Men's College World Series in program history.
West Virginia was named the No. 16 national seed and hosted an NCAA Regional for the third time. After an opening-round win over Binghamton, the Mountaineers dropped a back-and-forth affair to Kentucky, 11-9. West Virginia stormed back to win the Regional with a victory over Wake Forest and a pair of wins over Kentucky, including a walk-off, 10-inning victory in the decisive Game 7.
The Mountaineers dominated Cal Poly in the Morgantown Super Regional, winning by scores of 12-2 and 17-1 to clinch their first berth to the College World Series.
In just his second season at the helm, Sabins has guided West Virginia to an 89-31 record with back-to-back seasons of 44+ wins. West Virginia also qualified for a Super Regional last year in his debut season.
West Virginia has been perhaps the hottest team in the country since the calendar turned to May, holding a 17-3 record in that span. Sabins has guided West Virginia to a 21-9 Big 12 record, including road series wins over then-No. 22 Arizona State and a sweep at No. 7 Kansas.
Sabins has now helped the Mountaineers to a program record for wins in back-to-back seasons.
"Steve Sabins accomplished what some might have thought impossible 30-40 years ago by qualifying West Virginia for the World Series," NCBWA Executive Director Bo Carter said.
"He helped the Mountaineers win their first Super Regional in history and has inspired his student-athletes, coaches, fans, and college baseball enthusiasts nationwide with his passion for the game and team success on and off the field. The entire NCBWA membership sends congratulations to Steve Sabins."
West Virginia has featured a balanced attack all season, ranking in the top 30 nationally in batting average (.307), ERA (3.79), and fielding percentage (.979). The Mountaineers had the top defense and pitching staff in the Big 12, anchored by dual aces Maxx Yehl (9-2, 2.10 ERA, 105 Ks) and Chansen Cole (10-1, 2.85 ERA, 106 Ks).
The Mountaineers open College World Series play against Troy on Friday at 2 p.m. ET. West Virginia and Troy are joined in Bracket 1 by Ole Miss and No. 5 seed North Carolina.
About the Mike Martin National Coach of the Year Award
The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Coach of the Year Award, introduced in 2008, is voted on by the NCBWA Board of Directors, and chosen from a list that includes all Division I conference coaches of the year and the coaches of the eight NCAA College World Series teams.
In 2020, the NCBWA board of directors voted unanimously to name the annual award after Mike Martin, the winningest head coach in NCAA Division I baseball history after he retired at Florida State in 2019 with a 2,029-736-4 mark over 40 seasons in leading the FSU program from 1980-2019. Martin passed away in February 2024 at age 79.
"When I heard about it," he said with a smile at the time, "I was simply flabbergasted. It is such an honor to have my name associated with this award, and it is a tribute to all the players and coaches who worked with me at Florida State."
"We could not think of any other coach historically to associate a name for this annual award besides coach Mike Martin," said Carter. "He has meant so much to college baseball as it has continued year-by-year to gain additional national popularity.
NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and publicists. Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport's only college media-related organization, founded in 1962.
ALL-TIME WINNERS
2026 – Steve Sabins West Virginia
2025 – Dan Skirka Murray State
2024 – Nick Mingione Kentucky
2023 – Ryan Folmar Oral Roberts
2022 – Link Jarrett Notre Dame
2021 – Tony Vitello Tennessee
2020 – None
2019 – Eric Bakich Michigan
2018 – Gary Henderson Mississippi State
2017 – Pat Casey Oregon State
2016 – Gary Gilmore Coastal Carolina
2015 – Paul Mainieri LSU
2014 – Mike Gillespie UC Irvine
2013 – Tracy Smith Indiana
2012 – Matt Senk Stony Brook
2011 – David Esquer California
2010 – Jim Schlossnagle TCU
2009 – Brian O'Connor Virginia
2008 – Mike Batesole Fresno State
Players Mentioned
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LHP
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