Men's golf: Wetrich named finalist for NJCAA Coach of the Year

NEWTON, KS — Michael Wetrich, the head coach of the top-ranked Indian Hills men's golf team, has been named a finalist for the coveted 2026 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award, announced Monday night.

Wetrich was recognized as one of four finalists for the national honor Monday night at the NJCAA Men's Golf National Tournament Pre-Championship banquet. Wetrich is joined by Daniel Allen of Central Alabama Community College, Conrado Cabezas of Eastern Arizona College and Vince Clark of McLennan Community College.

In his fifth season at the helm of the Warriors, Wetrich has led the program to a No. 1 national ranking in every Scoreboard Powered by Clippd national rankings this year. The Warriors have also maintained the No. 1 rank in each of the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) national rankings during the spring campaign.

Indian Hills is coming off the program's 14th all-time NJCAA District Championship after winning this year's Central District title in convincing fashion, winning by a remarkable 28 strokes. In total, the Warriors have claimed five team titles this year.

Wetrich, who guided the Warriors to the 2023 NJCAA DI Men's Golf National Championship in his first full season with the program, was tapped as the 2023 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year. Wetrich has also earned NJCAA Central District Coach of the Year honors in both 2024 and 2026.

Along with Wetrich's recognition Monday night, four individuals were named to the NJCAA Division I Men's Golf PING All-District Team. Sophomores Charlie Preston and Nathan Pouchoulon were joined by freshman Miles Bollinger and Harry McArdle made up four of the 10 Central district representatives.

The group has helped guide the Warriors to a No. 1 national ranking throughout the duration of the fall season by winning a total of five tournament titles during the 2025-26 campaign. Indian Hills will take its No. 1 rank into the national championship which gets underway from Sand Creek Golf Station on Tuesday morning.

Coming off an All-American performance as a freshman, Preston currently ranks as the No. 2 individual in the nation after a dominant sophomore campaign. Preston captured the NJCAA Central District Championship with a 13-under-par 203 effort, tied for the third-lowest 54-hole total in program history. On the year, Preston has carded seven top-10 individual finishes, including three top-three performances.

Pouchoulon has produced a stellar sophomore campaign for the Warriors and currently ranks No. 11 in the nation in the latest individual rankings. The sophomore has produced six top-10 finishes on the year, including a 10th-place showing at the NJCAA Central District Championship.

McArdle has made an immediate impact for the Warriors as a freshman and currently ranks fifth in the country in the latest individual rankings. McArdle boasted a runner-up finish at the NJCAA Central District Championship in addition to three other top-10 showings during the 2025-26 campaign.