Head coach Steele wins coach of the year

On April 2, Miami University men’s head basketball coach, Travis Steele, was named the 2026 John McLendon Coach of the Year by College Insider. The award is given annually to the best head coach in all divisions of collegiate men’s basketball.

John McLendon, the award’s namesake, was a trailblazer in his time. He coached in “The Secret Game” in 1944 where his all-Black North Carolina Central University Eagles beat the all-white Duke University Blue Devils. The game being played was illegal at the time. McLendon won three National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics titles at Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial (Tennessee State University). He is a member of both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Steele shared this special moment with this family. A video posted on Instagram shows the reveal beginning with senior guard Peter Suder thanking coach Steele for his contributions to the program. Steele said he was tricked throughout the day by his family.

“At first I was confused. Everybody tried to trick me into what they were doing,” Steele said.

The fourth-year coach eventually got over the shock and was able to appreciate the moment.

“To be able to share it with my wife and three kids is awesome,” Steele said. “I think it’s just a reflection of the family that we have, a reflection of the players that we have.”

Previous winners of this prestigious award include Jon Scheyer of Duke University, Kelvin Sampson of the University of Houston, and fellow coach who achieved an undefeated regular season, Gregg Marshall of Wichita State University.

“It’s a huge honor to even be in the same breath as those guys,” Steele said. “It takes a village to do it.”

One of the members of this thriving village is assistant coach Khristian Smith. Smith just finished his fourth season, and says he is proud to be a part of a great staff and program. He credits Steele with building the team since day one.

“It’s just surreal, just to see where we were year one to where we are now,” Smith said. “He obviously got MAC coach of the year, but to get that National Coach of the Year recognition was super cool.”

The coaching staff hopes the recognition received this season, along with a new award on Steele’s mantle, will benefit the program and the university in the future.

“Now everything knows what Miami looks like,” Smith said.

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Steele agreed the award will impact Miami’s reputation.

“I think the winning will continue to strengthen the brand and then gain even more notoriety for our great campus,” Steele said.

National recognition can redefine the profile of a university. Brad Stevens elevated Butler University from the Horizon League to the Big East, earning the school millions of dollars in the process.

Suder was able to get in on the announcement festivities as well. He was seen giving a message to Steele just seconds before the special moment.

“Super proud of coach Steele,” Suder said. “What he’s done for me as an individual and for the whole Miami University family basketball program has been everything. Seeing his reaction and me being a part of it, I’m just super honored to be a part of it.”

The success of the program this season has helped grow the brand of Miami basketball. The team’s Instagram account gained over 4,000 new followers in the month of March. The post following the win over Southern Methodist University garnered over 15,000 likes. The brand has grown, and the momentum seems here to stay.

As the transfer portal looms and the 2025-2026 Miami RedHawks go their separate ways, they will forever be linked. Travis Steele, winning the John McLendon Coach of the Year award, will be an integral chapter to their story.

@jolliff_vincent

jollifvm@miamioh.edu