University of Mary Washington men’s basketball coach Marcus Kahn has been named the 2026 Glenn Robinson National Coach of the Year award, which is presented annually to the top head coach in NCAA Division III college basketball.
After finishing 15-15 a season ago, Kahn has led UMW to a 29-3 record this year, including a berth in the Division III National Championship game on April 5. It’s the program’s first-ever appearance in the title game.
“Marcus Kahn has been doing an outstanding job for many years,” said Joe Dwyer, president of College Insider, Inc. and member of the Glenn Robinson voting panel. “He established himself as one of the top coaches in the country during his time at Cabrini, and he’s turned Mary Washington into a perennial contender.”
This year, Kahn reached his 400th collegiate coaching victory, becoming just the 31st active head coach among more than 400 in NCAA Division III to surpass 400 career wins. He also smashed the previous school record for wins (24), which was set back in 2013-14. The win over Trinity College in the national semifinals was the team’s 11th consecutive win, a new program record.
The Glenn Robinson Award is named in honor of the legendary Franklin & Marshall head coach. The winningest coach in Division III history, Robinson won his 900th game on Jan. 9, 2016. He’s the second Division III coach to spend 1,000 games on the sidelines. Robinson directed the Diplomats to 23 NCAA tournament appearances, 42 tournament victories, 16 trips to the Sweet 16 and Final Four visits in 1979, 1991, 1996, 2000 and 2009. Even more remarkable, Franklin & Marshall was 22-43 in his first three seasons and in the last 45 years, all but three players have earned their degree.
Previous award winners
Joe Reilly, Wesleyan (2025); Brooks Miller, Trine (2024); Landry Kosmalski, Swathmore (2023); Josh Merkel, Randolph-Macon (2022); Josh Merkel, Randolph-Macon (2021); Elliot Steinmetz, Yeshiva University (2020); Matt Lewis, UW-Oshkosh (2019); Charlie Brock, Springfield College (2018); Kevin App, Williams College (2017); John Krikorian, Christopher Newport (2016); Jon VanderWal, Marietta (2015); Greg Dunne, Brockport State (2014); Chris Bartley, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2013); Matt Neil, Hope College (2012); Shawn Cassidy, Concordia University Wisconsin (2011).
PODCAST: Coffee Shop Talk with UMW men’s basketball coach Marcus Kahn
