GREENSBORO, N.C. – The American Baseball Coaches Association released regional coaching awards Tuesday with UIndy baseball head coach Al Ready was announced as the 2026 ABCA/ATEC Midwest Region Coach of the Year. The announcement marked the fourth consecutive regional honor for Ready, who becomes the first Midwest skipper to garner four straight since the ABCA began handing out the award in 2003.
 
This past spring, Ready guided the Greyhounds to 18 wins in their last 22 regular season games, helping secure an at-large spot in the NCAA Tournament. After dropping the Midwest Regional opener in extra innings, the Hounds ran off six straight victories—including a super-regional sweep at No. 4 Grand Valley State—to hoist the regional trophy for the third time in the last four years.
 
Ready's clubs have made four consecutive Super Regional appearances—a program first—while combining for an impressive 21-4 record in NCAA regional and super regional play since 2023.
 

2026 ABCA/ATEC DII REGIONAL COACHES OF THE YEAR

REGION	COACH	SCHOOL
East	Mike Hill	Bentley
Atlantic	Mike LaRosa	West Chester
Southeast	Jim Gantt	Catawba
South	Joe Urso	Tampa
Midwest	Al Ready	UIndy
Central	Kyle Crookes	Central Missouri
South Central	Brent Porche	Texas-Tyler
West	Justin James	Point Loma Nazarene

ABOUT THE ABCA
Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 41 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel.