<![CDATA[MRO-Plus: Miami RedHawks

<![CDATA[MRO-Plus: Miami RedHawks - Home]]>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:16:06 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[MIAMI BASKETBALL]]>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 02:28:37 GMThttps://www.mro-plus.com/home/miami-basketball3791475Miami announces 2026-27 MAC basketball schedule

OXFORD, Ohio – On Wednesday morning, the Miami University men's basketball team announced its 2026-27 conference schedule. The Red and White will play a 22-game Mid-American Conference (MAC) slate. The RedHawks will host 11 MAC games and hit the road for 11 conference games this upcoming season.

Miami opens conference . . .

. . . play at home on Dec. 2 versus Central Michigan in Millett Hall and hosts Ball State on Dec. 19. The RedHawks will face off with Eastern Michigan (Jan. 2), Western Michigan (Jan. 12), Buffalo (Jan. 19) and Akron (Jan. 23) in the month of January. Miami will also welcome Kent State (Feb. 2), Bowling Green (Feb. 9), Toledo (Feb. 16) and Ohio (Feb. 27). The Red and White take on UMass (March 5) to round out the home dates.

The RedHawks will play two road games in the month of December, as the Red and White head to Buffalo (Dec. 5) and Bowling Green (Dec. 16). Other road MAC contests include Toledo (Jan. 5), Akron (Jan. 9), Kent State (Jan. 16), UMass (Jan. 26), Ohio (Jan. 30), Ball State (Feb. 13), Central Michigan (Feb. 20), Eastern Michigan (Feb. 23) and Western Michigan (March 2).

]]><![CDATA[MIAMI BASKETBALL]]>Sun, 09 Aug 2026 18:05:34 GMThttps://www.mro-plus.com/home/miami-basketball6111837Surprise! Miami announces return of Antwone Woolfolk

ANTWONE WOOLFOLK

OXFORD, Ohio– Miami University men's basketball head coach Travis Steele announced today that forward Antwone Woolfolk will return to the program for the 2026-27 season. Woolfolk, an Honorable Mention All-MAC pick a season ago, will use his fifth season of eligibility this winter. He averaged 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 2025-26 to help the RedHawks to an undefeated regular season, MAC regular-season championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. Woolfolk has made 67 appearances (all starts) for the Red and White over the past two seasons since transferring to Miami from Rutgers.

"Miami University has . . .

. . . shaped who I am both on and off the court," said Woolfolk. "Through Miami, I have learned discipline, resilience, leadership and the importance of working toward goals that require consistent effort over time. As I prepare to earn my degree, I also hope to continue my basketball career and compete at a high level while furthering my education.

"My desire to return to the court is about more than playing another season," Woolfolk continued. "It is an opportunity to continue growing as a student-athlete, represent my university with integrity, and contribute to a team through my experience, work ethic and leadership. I believe I still have meaningful contributions to make both academically and athletically.

"Returning to basketball while earning my degree will allow me to maximize my remaining eligibility while investing in my long-term future. My goal is to leave a positive impact on my teammates, coaches and university while preparing for the next chapter of my life beyond athletics."

"I am excited to welcome Antwone back to the Miami Family for the 2026-27 season. His impact on this program both on and off the court has meant a great deal to me," Steele said. "I am looking forward to Antwone being able to complete his degree while also continuing to help push this program forward."

Miami will open the 2026-27 campaign at James Madison on Monday, Nov. 2.

]]><![CDATA[MAC/MIAMI FOOTBALL]]>Sat, 08 Aug 2026 21:53:23 GMThttps://www.mro-plus.com/home/macmiami-football6474727RedHawks reloading for another MAC run

SEASON PREVIEW: MIAMI
RECORD: 7-7 (6-2 MAC)
2026 HEAD COACHES POLL: 2ND of 13 Teams

MRO STAFF
It's seldom an easy path to the MAC championship game, but Miami had a particularly rocky road to reach last year's championship tilt.
MU's biggest hurdle was the in-season loss of quarterback Dequan Finn -- not to injury, but to ... "preparing for the NFL draft."
The former Toledo Rocket and MAC Offensive Player of the Year came to Miami after a season at Baylor. He saw action in eight games, leading MU to a 4-4 record (4-1 MAC) before pulling the plug.
After falling to Toledo, the RedHawks . . .

. . . regrouped to defeat Buffalo and Ball State. The 6-2 MAC regular season record matched Ohio and Toledo, but MU's tie-breaker advantage lifted Miami to its third championship game appearance in four years. Western Michigan (7-1) had lost to MU during regular season play but claimed a 23-13 win in the championship game.
Given WMU's success at retaining much of its championship team for this year, it's not all that surprising MAC football coaches picked Western Michigan to repeat in 2026. More suprisingly, perhaps, Miami was a very close second (138-134). Moreover, several preseason publications were split on their favorite.
So why is it somewhat surprising to see MU garnering such predictions?
A short answer is personnel turnover.
Miami lost a number of key contributors since 2025, and much depends on how well they can be replaced.
It would seem prevailing thought is that MU's incoming talent and/or existing roster are very capable of yet another solid MAC run.

Miami's offensive line has experience and a little transfer help, as well. (MVSmith/MRO file)

OFFENSE:
• Finn's sudden departure thrust backup QB Henry Hesson under center. Both those players are gone. Fortunately, freshman Thomas Gotkowski also saw action in the closing weeks and helped Miami negotiate the critical final two games. He completed 25-of-47 attempts for 411 yards with one TD in that stretch but was later less effective against Western Michigan (MAC Championship) and Fresno State (bowl game). Both those programs had top 10 (nationally) defenses.
Gotkowski is back this year, but Miami needed to beef up its quarterback room regardless. To that end, it brought in two quarterbacks, and MU entered fall camp with a three-way competition for QB1.
Former Kansas backup David McComb (R-Fr. 6-4, 220) threw for 3,009 yards (23 TDs, 8 INTs) as a high school junior in 2023.
Caleb Heavner, meanwhile, tops the trio in game experience. The 6-2, 220, senior threw for 3,398 yards and 24 TDs in 24 career games for Fort Hays (NCAA Div. II).
• Rushing leader Jordan Brunson 164 carries, 767 yards, 4 TDs is gone and Finn was second. However, the RedHawks will have a thunder-and-lightning duo for what is expected to be a robust ground game in 2026. D'Shawntae Jones is a 5-10, 248-pound sophomore who logged 63 carries totaling 277 yards (4.4 ypc) with seven touchdowns last year. Another backfield threat is Rodney Nelson. The redshirt-junior is just 5-8, 195 pounds, but he rushed for 2,614 yards and 24 touchdowns at (FCS) Monmouth over the last two seasons. His 1,802 yards and 18 scores last year helped him earn CAA Player of the Year honors. The Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) is regarded as one of the strongest conferences in FCS, but Nelson will still need to prove his skills can translate.
A third option is redshirt senior Cade Yacamelli (6-0, 219). He saw action in 32 games while at Wisconsin, totaling 107 carries, 571 yards and 2 TDs.
• Regardless of who is in the backfield, they should all benefit from an experienced and highly-regarded offensive line. Left tackle Eric Smith was a Third Team All-MAC selection. Sophomore center Kris Manu and junior guard Greg Smith are also returning starters. Joining the group is Evan Malcore, who started 32 games at left tackle for Northern Illinois (2023-2025). He earned Third Team All-MAC honors last year.
• It's a different story among receivers. Kam Perry and Cole Weaver, Miami's top two receivers are gone. Keith Reynolds (36 catches, 352 yards, 1 TD) will be the most productive RedHawk receiving returnee. Several incoming transfers have Power 4 pedigree. Quintin Simmons was with Kentucky, while Devin Hyatt transferred in from Arizona. Damarion Witten spent two seasons at Ohio State but saw action in just one game.

Eli Coppess is part of a deep secondary unit. (MVSmith/MRO file)

DEFENSE:
• Defense has been a strong point for Miami teams under Chuck Martin, and his RedHawks finished third (among 13 MAC teams) in scoring defense (21.7 ppg.) and total defense (334.6 ypg) last year despite the loss of several key defenders following 2024 action.
MU will again need to replace some big shoes. MAC First Team member Adam Trick is now with Texas Tech. Safety Eli Blakey led MU in tackles (118) in his final season and linebacker Jackson Kuwatch (109 tackles, 5 sacks) signed with the NFL Carolina Panthers. Safety Silas Walters inked with the Baltimore Ravens and Corban Hondru finished his with 83 tackles in 2025.
• The quantity and quality of losses is hard to overlook. Nonetheless, very few around the Mid-American Conference expect MU's defense to drop off significantly. With Martin at the helm, somebody usually steps in or steps up.
As usual, linebacker should be an area of strength. Junior Malcolm McCain recorded 73 tackles (33 solo), 2 sacks and a forced fumble last year. CJ Young (Second Team All-MAC) transferred in from Kent State and Blayne Myrick earned First-Team All-Sun Belt honors while at South Alabama. Junior Brock Uihlein, meanwhile, saw limited action as a RedHawk last year and could increase his role this time around.
• Roosevelt Andrews III started 13 games last year and returns along the D-line. Bai Jobe played in all 14 contests, while OJ Alexander recorded 12 game appearances. Devin Bell and Grant Lyons should move into DE spots.
• As for the secondary, RedHawk fans might understandably be anxious about replacing familiar playmakers like Blakey and Walters. Martin, however, sees a nice mix of experienced and transfer talent waiting in the wings. As an example, he noted Eli Coppass "had a huge game against OU when (Silas Walters) was out and missed a game (last year). I expect huge things out of Eli (in his senior year)."
Junior corner Kaleb Martin returns after 12 starts last year. Senior safety Mychael Yarbrough had 10 starts and 14 game appearances in 2025. Senior Ben Minich, a Lakota High School (West Chester) grad transferred in from Notre Dame. Amariyun Knighten, also a transfer, gained extensive experience at Northern Illinois before seeing limited action during 2025 at Indiana.
Tony Coleman Jr. (11 appearances), Jackson Pons and Leo Colombi are among other secondary pieces.
"You're talking about 12 or 14 DBs that will be battling, not only for starting positions, but rotational starters (and) key depth positions," Martin said. "It should be good competition all through fall camp. ... We've got a lot of depth."

SPECIAL TEAMS:
Special teams has been a program strength through Martin's time at the helm, and 2026 looks promising.
• Steady kicker Dom Dzioban, known for his success under pressure, is gone. His likely replacement is Kellan McLaughlin. Although the redshirt junior has spent recent Miami years as a kickoff specialist, he has the leg to once again give Miami a legitimate field goal threat from distance.
Senior punter Pierse Stainton returns after averaging 42.3 yards per boot in 2025. His 63 attempts included three kicks of over 50 yards and just three touchbacks.
• Reynolds has handled kickoff return duties in the past and set a school record with his 100-yard return against UNLV last year. Given a seam, he is capable of long returns.

Keith Reynolds is a threat both as a receiver and kick returner. (MVSmith/MRO file)

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Martin expects position battles on both sides of the ball throughout fall camp. Miami fans, meanwhile, may want to keep a roster with them -- at least through non-conference play as some of the lesser-known names step into key roles.
The RedHawks open Sept. 5 at Pittsburgh. In between home tilts against Holy Cross and UConn, MU faces rival Cincinnati. That game will be played at TQL Stadium (Home of FC Cincinnati soccer) starting at 3:30 p.m., Sept. 19.
Bowling Green visits Oxford Sept. 26 for the MAC opener. There is no Toledo or Ball State on the schedule this year, but Central Michigan (away), Buffalo, Ohio (in Oxford) and coaches preseason favorite Western Michigan are all among the final five games.
Sorting out the quarterback situation -- at least by the MAC schedule -- is a key. Identifying productive receivers and developing some chemistry is not far behind. However, an experienced offensive line should pave the way for a healthy run game and offer decent pass protection.
Defensively, Miami's run of solid linebacking play should continue. The secondary has depth (especially with transfers), but it could take some time to get all the pieces working together.
The D-line has some question marks, but if MU can find answers, the RedHawks could once again be among the MAC's better defensive units.
Most of the tougher MAC matchups are in November, so many of the preseason personnel questions will be answered by them. Those answers, in turn, will likely determine if MU can reach a another MAC title game.

]]><![CDATA[MAC/MIAMI FOOTBALL]]>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 21:47:09 GMThttps://www.mro-plus.com/home/macmiami-football4914071WMU first, Miami second in preseason coaches poll

CLEVELAND, OH -- Miami ranked second in this year's preseason MAC Football Coaches poll, according to a release by the league Wednesday morning.

Western Michigan, which defeated MU in last year's title game and has a very strong group of returnees, took the top spot with 138 votes, Miami, meanwhile, is integrating more portal and/or 2025 backup talent. The RedHawks totaled 134 points.
Perennial contenders Toledo (115 points) and Ohio (107 points) were third and fourth. Both enter 2026 with new head coach, albeit Ohio promoted from within its staff.

Miami has been . . .

to three straight championship games, defeating Toledo in 2023 before falling to Ohio (2024) and Western Michigan (2025).

2026 MAC Football Coaches Preseason Poll

First Place votes in ( ) | *Coaches were not able to vote for themselves
1. Western Michigan (9) – 138 points
2. Miami (4) – 134 points
3. Toledo – 115 points
4. Ohio – 107 points
5. Central Michigan – 101 points
6. Buffalo – 81 points
7. Eastern Michigan – 76 points
8. Kent State – 64 points
9. Bowling Green – 59 points
10. Akron – 52 points
11. Ball State – 34 points
12. Sacramento State – 28 points
13. Massachusetts – 25 points

MAC Title Game Champion: Western Michigan – 9; Miami – 4

]]><![CDATA[MIAMI BASKETBALL]]>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:23:12 GMThttps://www.mro-plus.com/home/miami-basketball5054124RedHawks to face James Madison in SBC Challenge

CLEVELAND, Ohio – It will be RedHawks vs Dukes Nov. 2 when Head Coach Travis Steele's Miami RedHawks basketball team visits James Madison in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

The contest is Part 1 of this year's MAC versus Sun Belt challenge. MAC teams will be visiting Sun Belt schools for the early November encounter. Sun Belt teams will travel to MAC schools later in the regular season, with matchups to be determined.

Miami defeated Old Dominion 87-72 in Oxford to open the historic 2025-26 season. The second SBC contest saw MU defeat Marshall 90-74 in Huntington, West Virginia.

James Madison is . . .

. . . coming off an 18-15 (9-9 SBC) season. It will be the third time that the two programs have faced off.

The RedHawks are coming off of a historic year that included an undefeated regular season (31-0) and set a program record with 32 wins (tying the MAC record for most wins in a single season), breaking the previous mark of 25 set a year earlier. The Red and White secured the MAC Regular Season Championship outright for the program's first MAC title since 2005, became the first MAC team to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament since 1999 and defeated SMU in the First Four for the program's first NCAA Tournament win since 1999.

The RedHawks return 10 players from last season's roster, including third-team All-MAC performer Luke Skaljac, Almar Atlason and Evan Ipsaro, who is returning from an injury.

]]><![CDATA[MIAMI NOTES]]>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 03:29:35 GMThttps://www.mro-plus.com/home/miami-notes2925644Former RedHawks Suder signs with LA Lakers

PETER SUDER (MVSmith/MRO files)

OXFORD, Ohio – Former Miami University men's basketball standout guard Peter Suder has signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Each NBA team is allowed up to three two-way roster spots, with the contract permitting the player to split the season between the NBA team and its G League affiliate.

Other undrafted free agents signed by the Lakers included William Kyle III (C, Syracuse), AK Okereke (F, Vanderbilt, Chase Ross (F, Marquette and St. Louis center Robbie Avila. The latter was very productive while drawing a number of nicknames (SEE RELATED SPORTING NEWS ARTICLE HERE).

As a RedHawk, Suder . . .

. . . played in 67 games where he averaged 14.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.28 steals and 0.4 blocks. He shot 52.1% from the field and 38.3% from beyond the three-point line. He led the Miami men's basketball team to a 31-1 home record over his two years with the program and most recently led the team to a 31-0 regular season record in the 2025-26 season.

He became just the seventh player in Miami program history and the first since Michael Bramos in 2009 to be named MAC Player of the Year and was also named a finalist for the 2025-26 Lou Henson Award, which is presented annually to the top mid-major player in college basketball last season. Suder, a two-time captain for the RedHawks, also earned All-MAC First Team honors for the second consecutive season. He concluded his senior season averaging 14.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.39 blocks while shooting 54.6% from the floor and 42.1% from behind the arc.

]]><![CDATA[MAC BASKETBALL]]>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 23:06:46 GMThttps://www.mro-plus.com/home/mac-basketball9572083MAC and SBC extend basketball series

CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Sun Belt Conference (SBC) have announced an extension of the MAC-SBC Challenge in men's and women's basketball through the 2028-29 season.

The 12 MAC men's and women's basketball teams will face off against 12 Sun Belt teams in a pair of contests each year, with each game being carried on an ESPN platform.

"The MAC-SBC Challenge has . . .

. . . proven to be a tremendous opportunity for our men's and women's basketball programs to compete against quality opponents while providing meaningful exposure," said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher. "We are pleased to extend this partnership with the Sun Belt Conference through the 2028-29 season and look forward to continuing a series that benefits our student-athletes, institutions and fans through highly competitive, nationally visible matchups."

"Over its three-year history, the MAC-SBC Challenge has annually produced many of the best non-conference matchups for our men's and women's basketball teams," said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. "We are thrilled to continue this scheduling alliance with the Mid-American Conference through the 2028-29 season and look forward to these compelling NET-driven matchups against peer institutions."

Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-SBC Challenge will be guaranteed one home and one away game each season.

Ordinal Sports Group will continue to assist with scheduling, using NET data, geographic proximity and historical matchup frequency to guide the pairings.

The 2026-27 season will kick off with the opening MAC-SBC Challenge matchups on Monday, November 2. Sun Belt men's teams will host MAC counterparts, while MAC women's teams will welcome Sun Belt teams.

The second round, scheduled for Saturday, February 6, will feature Sun Belt women's teams hosting MAC opponents and MAC men's teams hosting Sun Belt opponents.

For more information on MAC Men's & Women's Basketball, please visit GetSomeMACtion.com.

2026-27
Nov. 2 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Nov. 2 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
Feb. 6 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Feb. 6 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men

2027-28
Nov. 8 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Nov. 8 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men
Feb. 5 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Feb. 5 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men

2028-29
Nov. 6 – Sun Belt Women at MAC Women
Nov. 6 – MAC Men at Sun Belt Men
Feb. 3 – MAC Women at Sun Belt Women
Feb. 3 – Sun Belt Men at MAC Men

]]><![CDATA[MIAMI FOOTBALL]]>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:25:45 GMThttps://www.mro-plus.com/home/miami-football3208558Miami vs Cincinnati football ticket opportunity

Miami will meet Cincinnati in a Battle for the Victory Bell Saturday, Sept. 19. This year's meeting will be a TQL Stadium, home of Major League Soccer's FC Cincinnati. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. (EXPN+).

Tickets in select sections on the Miami side will go on sale to the general public beginning Monday, June 22, at midnight. An email with the purchase link through SeatGeek and instructions will be sent on Monday when the sale goes live.

MIAMI PRESALE
Miami Football season ticket holders and Miami Athletic Fund members currently have access to a presale within Miami's exclusive allotment. Fans interested in gaining access to the tickets in the presale (by purchasing season tickets or becoming a member) can contact the Miami Athletics Ticket Office at 513-529-4295.

STUDENT TICKETS
Code Red Members ONLY will receive access to purchase discounted student tickets to the Miami vs. Cincinnati game later this summer. Have someone that is a student and interested in joining Code Red? Click the link HERE to sign up! Students must log in using their Miami email address.

]]><![CDATA[MIAMI SPORTS]]>Sat, 30 May 2026 15:56:50 GMThttps://www.mro-plus.com/home/miami-sports4944905MU makes history with Reese/Jacoby repeat!!

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Miami University swept the Reese Trophy and Jacoby Trophy in 2025-26 for the third time in the past seven years and the fifth time in school history, the Mid-American Conference announced today. This is the first time in history that a MAC program has captured both trophies in back-to-back seasons.

The RedHawks won their second-straight Reese Trophy (and 27th overall) as the top men's athletic program in the MAC during the 2025-26 academic year. Miami captured its eighth Jacoby Trophy (and second in a row) as the top MAC women's program in 2025-26. The RedHawks also claimed both trophies in 2025, 2019, 1997 and 1983.

During the past academic year, Miami . . .

. . . competed in six men's sports and won the men's golf championship while also claiming regular season titles in men's basketball and baseball. The RedHawk football team also made it to the MAC Championship title game. Miami's Reese score this year marks the highest men's score of all time.

Miami competed in 10 women's sports during the 2025-26 academic year and won the field hockey and women's basketball tournament titles and regular season championships.

"Winning these awards is a testament to our amazing student-athletes across all our sports, along with our talented coaches and staff that guide them on our mission to Graduate Champions from Miami University", said Director of Athletics David Sayler. "To win both all sport trophies two years in a row, a feat that has never been done before in the history of the Mid-American Conference, is a tremendous accomplishment for all RedHawks to be proud of. Success like this is not accidental, it is purposeful and comes with tremendous commitment from everyone involved with Miami University - along with strong support from our donors and fans. Kudos again to our fantastic student-athletes on an amazing year, but I want to stress that we are not done and will not rest in our relentless pursuit of comprehensive excellence."

"This is an extraordinary accomplishment for our athletic programs to be awarded the Jacoby and Reese All-Sports Trophies," Miami University President Greg Crawford said. "This marks the second consecutive year our teams have earned this honor, a testament to their hard work, competitive spirit, and unwavering commitment to teamwork. As a student-first institution dedicated to excellence, we are proud of our student-athletes who excel on the field, court, and pitch as well as in the classroom. Our student-athletes exemplify Miami's enduring values of love and honor."

For the Reese Trophy, points are awarded based on each school's finish, with the overall total divided by the number of sports sponsored by each school. The men's trophy is named for former MAC Commissioner David E. Reese. Reese was the first-ever MAC Commissioner and served the conference from its inception in 1946 until 1964.

For the Jacoby Trophy, points are awarded based on each school's finish, with the overall total divided by the number of sports sponsored by each school. The women's trophy is named for former MAC Commissioner Fred Jacoby. Jacoby was the MAC Commissioner from 1971-82 and is credited with incorporating women's athletics into the conference structure.

2025-26 Final Reese (Men's) Final Standings
School, No. Sports, Points, Avg.
1. Miami, 6 sports, 67 points, 11.17 avg.
2. Akron, 6 sports, 54 points, 9.00 avg.
3. Western Michigan, 4 sports, 34.5 points, 8.63 avg.
4. Toledo, 6 sports, 49 points, 8.17 avg.
5. Kent State, 8 sports, 61 points, 7.63 avg.
6. Northern Illinois, 6, sports, 43.5 points, 7.25 avg.
7. Buffalo, 7 sports, 43.5 points, 6.21 avg.
8. Eastern Michigan, 7 sports, 43 points, 6.14 avg.
9. Ball State, 5 sports, 30 points, 6.00 avg.
10. Central Michigan, 6 sports, 35.5 points, 5.92 avg.
11. Ohio, 6 sports, 32.5 points, 5.42 avg.
12. Bowling Green, 5 sports, 23 points, 4.60 avg.
13. UMass, 6 sports, 23.5 points, 3.92 avg.

2025-26 Final Jacoby (Women's) Final Standings
School, No. Sports, Points, Avg.
1. Miami, 10 sports, 90.75 points, 9.07 avg.
2. Western Michigan, 10 sports, 88.5 points, 8.85 avg.
3. Akron, 10 sports, 87 points, 8.70 avg.
4. UMass, 10 sports, 91.75 points, 8.34 avg.
5. Ball State, 11 sports, 96.67 points, 8.05 avg.
6. Ohio, 12 sports, 75.5 points, 7.55 avg.
7. Kent State, 10 sports, 76 points, 6.91 avg.
8. Central Michigan, 11 sports, 74 points, 6.72 avg.
9. Toledo, 11 sports, 69.25 points 6.29 avg.
10. Bowling Green, 11 sports, 69 points, 6.27 avg.
11. Eastern Michigan, 12 sports, 69.5 points, 5.79 avg.
12. Buffalo, 9 sports, 49.25 points, 5.47 avg.
13. Northern Illinois, 10 sports, 38 points, 3.80 avg.

]]><![CDATA[MIAMI BASKETBALL]]>Wed, 27 May 2026 16:14:45 GMThttps://www.mro-plus.com/home/miami-basketball5217534Steele inks contract extention

OXFORD, Ohio – On Wednesday, May 27, Miami's Director of Athletics David Sayler announced that head men's basketball coach Travis Steele has signed a contract extension that runs through the 2033-34 basketball season.

WDTN IN DAYTON REPORTS Steele will earn a base salary of $850,000 per year, with an additional $150,000 retention bonus for each year he returns.
Miami’s buyout is 80 percent of the remaining total value of the base salary and retention bonuses.

"Coming off two consecutive record breaking seasons for Miami Basketball, I am thrilled to announce that we have signed Coach Steele to an extended contract to continue coaching here at Miami," said Sayler. "Travis brings positivity, passion and ingenuity to the position that is needed today to take this program where we all want it to go. I look forward to having Coach Steele, along with his talented staff, lead us forward into the future, building off his great success as we head towards opening our new arena in 2028. Miami Basketball has a very bright future with Travis leading the way and this is a great day for all of our fans and the campus community."

"My family and I are . . .

After leading Miami men's basketball to its winningest season ever, Travis Steele has signed a contract extension that runs through the 2033-34 season. (MVSmith/MRO)

CLICK READ MORE TO CONTINUE . . .

. . . extremely grateful for the contract extension," said Steele. "Miami has created a lot of happiness for us, and we are excited to continue to build the Miami Men's Basketball Program."

Steele became the 28th men's basketball head coach in Miami history on March 31, 2022. Heading into his fifth season at the helm, his record stands at 154-98 overall and 47-25 in MAC play since taking over the program.

In Steele's fourth year, he put together one of the most exceptional seasons in program history, as the RedHawks became just the fifth program this century (NCAA Division I) to go undefeated during regular-season play. Miami went on to set a program record with 32 wins (tying the MAC record for most wins in a single season), breaking the previous mark of 25 set a year earlier. He propelled Miami into the Top 25 rankings for the first time since Feb. 15, 1999. Miami climbed as high as No. 19 as its winning streak grew, the team's highest ranking since March 13, 1978. Miami was ranked No. 10 in the College Insider preseason Mid-Major Top 25® and went on to supplant Gonzaga at No. 1 on March 2.

The Red and White won the outright MAC regular-season championship for the program's first MAC title since 2005, became the first MAC team to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament since 1999 and defeated SMU in the First Four for the program's first NCAA Tournament win since 1999.

The RedHawks set program records for the most consecutive home wins overall (31) and road wins overall (15). Miami secured the best start for a program in MAC history, the most consecutive conference wins in MAC history, and the longest win streak in MAC history. The RedHawks ended the year with a program-record 1,049 made field goals and scored a program-record 3,047 points while also setting new records for field goal percentage (51.7%) and most made free throws in a season (592).

Steele was selected as the NABC Division I East District Coach of the Year, was named a Werner Ladder Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year Semifinalist, was a unanimous selection as MAC Coach of the Year and earned the title of John McLendon National Coach of the Year for his efforts during the 2025-26 season.

Under his guidance, senior guard Peter Suder was named to the NABC Division I East District First Team, and redshirt sophomore wing Brant Byers was selected to the Second Team. Suder earned MAC Player of the Year and earned First-Team honors as well, while Byers received a spot on the All-MAC Second Team, Eian Elmer was selected to the All-MAC Second Team, Luke Skaljac was placed on the All-MAC Third Team and Antwone Woolfolk was recognized as All-MAC Honorable Mention. In March, Collegeinsider.com announced that Suder was a finalist for the 2025-26 Lou Henson Award, which is presented annually to the top mid-major player in college basketball.

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