BRIGHTON, Mich. -- Albion College head coach Wytse Molenaar has been voted the 2026 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Men's Soccer Coach of the Year, earning the first Coach of the Year honor of his career following another successful season leading the Britons.

In his 11th season at the helm of the Albion program, Molenaar guided the Britons to a 4-0-3 record in conference play, finishing second in the MIAA standings with 15 points. Albion continued its postseason consistency under Molenaar, securing its fifth-consecutive appearance in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals.

Molenaar's leadership was also reflected in the individual recognition earned by his student-athletes. Huib Alberts was named the 2026 MIAA Freshman of the Year, while Lucas Anderson and Tom Veresh earned All-MIAA First Team honors. Five additional Britons were recognized with All-MIAA Second Team selections.

Throughout his 11 seasons at Albion, Molenaar has compiled an overall record of 69-71-26, continuing to build a competitive program and establish the Britons as a consistent presence in the MIAA postseason.

"I am grateful to my fellow MIAA coaches for recognizing our program with this honor," commented Molenaar. "When our players took home conference awards, we acknowledged it was a team effort, not an individual one; this is no different. I want to thank my assistant coach, Rhys Moller, for his support and the role he played in what the team achieved this season. Ultimately, coaches do not win games -- players do. Rhys and I were both lucky enough to be able to go along for the ride. Lastly, I would like to congratulate the teams from our conference heading to the NCAA playoffs. Good luck to Hope and Calvin who will be representing the MIAA on a national stage this weekend!"