Donny Pritzlaff Named NWCA National Coach of the Year
3/21/2026 6:19:00 PM | Wrestling
Pritzalff guided the Lions to an Ivy League Championship and a historic run at the NCAA Championships in 2025-26
MANHEIM, Pa. – Columbia's Andrew F. Barth Head Coach of Wrestling Donny Pritzlaff was named 2026 NCAA Division I Men's National Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), presented by Defense Soap.
Pritzlaff guided the Lions to an 11-3 dual meet record, highlighted by a 5-0 mark in Ivy League competition for the program's first regular-season conference title since the 1981-82 season.
The regular season momentum carried into the postseason, where Columbia earned a runner-up finish at the Ivy League Championships. The team crowned three individual conference champions and qualified a program-record seven wrestlers for the NCAA Championships.
The Lions' success culminated at the NCAA Championships, where Columbia tallied a program-best 25 team points. The championship performance was highlighted by Cesar Alvan, who secured a third-place finish at 165 pounds, becoming the seventh All-American in school history. Alvan's podium finish tied the highest individual finish at NCAAs in program history.
Additionally, Pritzlaff and his staff were recognized by their peers as the Ivy League Coaching Staff of the Year earlier this month.
"Coach Pritzlaff has made an immediate and truly lasting impact at Columbia, guiding the program to historic success in a very short time frame," commented Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. "Winning an Ivy League title and positioning his team for national success reflects not only his exceptional leadership and clear vision but also his outstanding ability to recruit, mentor, and develop student-athletes at the highest academic and athletic level. The NWCA is delighted to recognize Coach Pritzlaff for this well-deserved honor."
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Wrestling by following the Lions on X (@CULionsWR), Instagram (@culionswr) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
Pritzlaff guided the Lions to an 11-3 dual meet record, highlighted by a 5-0 mark in Ivy League competition for the program's first regular-season conference title since the 1981-82 season.
The regular season momentum carried into the postseason, where Columbia earned a runner-up finish at the Ivy League Championships. The team crowned three individual conference champions and qualified a program-record seven wrestlers for the NCAA Championships.
The Lions' success culminated at the NCAA Championships, where Columbia tallied a program-best 25 team points. The championship performance was highlighted by Cesar Alvan, who secured a third-place finish at 165 pounds, becoming the seventh All-American in school history. Alvan's podium finish tied the highest individual finish at NCAAs in program history.
Additionally, Pritzlaff and his staff were recognized by their peers as the Ivy League Coaching Staff of the Year earlier this month.
"Coach Pritzlaff has made an immediate and truly lasting impact at Columbia, guiding the program to historic success in a very short time frame," commented Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. "Winning an Ivy League title and positioning his team for national success reflects not only his exceptional leadership and clear vision but also his outstanding ability to recruit, mentor, and develop student-athletes at the highest academic and athletic level. The NWCA is delighted to recognize Coach Pritzlaff for this well-deserved honor."
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Wrestling by following the Lions on X (@CULionsWR), Instagram (@culionswr) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
Players Mentioned
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