EDISON, NJ (Feb. 12, 2026) – The 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men’s and Women’s Golf Preseason Coaches’ Polls have been announced, as voted on by the league's head coaches. Both defending champions, Fairfield University men’s and Quinnipiac University women’s were picked as the favorites in its respective polls.
Reigning MAAC Champions, Fairfield, was unanimously picked as the top team in the men’s poll, collecting all 11 first place votes for a total of 121 points. Last season, the Stags claimed the MAAC title for the first time since 1997, finishing with a total score of 862 (-2).
Checking in at second place in the poll was Iona University receiving 102 points, followed by 2025 MAAC runner-up, Sacred Heart University in third place with 93 points. Siena University was picked fourth in the poll, earning 85 points, while Mount St. Mary’s University was picked fifth with a total of 75 points.
In the women’s poll, Quinnipiac was selected first for the second straight year, compiling 89 points, while receiving eight first-place votes. The Bobcats finished as the 2025 MAAC Champions, winning the team title with a total score of 883 (+19). It was the program’s sixth overall MAAC title, having won back-to-back crowns in 2016 and 2017 and three straight trophies from 2021 through 2023.
2025 runner-up UAlbany, was voted second in the poll, finishing with 79 points and one first place vote, followed by Sacred Heart (71), Fairfield (60), and Merrimack College (53) to round out the top half of the women’s poll.
The full Preseason Coaches’ Polls can be found below.
| 2026 Men’s Golf Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Fairfield |
121 (11) |
| 2 |
Iona |
102 |
| 3 |
Sacred Heart |
93 |
| 4 |
Siena |
85 |
| 5 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
75 |
| 6 |
Manhattan |
66 |
| 7 |
Niagara |
54 |
| 8 |
Rider |
43 |
| 9 |
Merrimack |
38 |
| 10 |
Canisius |
32 |
| 11 |
Saint Peter’s |
17 |
| 2026 Women’s Golf Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Quinnipiac |
89 (8) |
| 2 |
UAlbany |
79 (1) |
| 3 |
Sacred Heart |
71 |
| 4 |
Fairfield |
60 |
| 5 |
Merrimack |
53 |
| 6 |
Mount St. Mary’s |
45 |
| 7 |
Siena |
35 |
| 8 |
Manhattan |
34 |
| 9 |
Iona |
18 |
| 10 |
Niagara |
11 |
2026 will mark the first time in league history the men’s and women’s championships are held separately.
The 2026 MAAC Women's Golf Championship takes place April 21-23, 2026 and returns to Disney's Golf Course in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, for the 15th consecutive season dating back to 2011 and the 24th time overall since 2000. For all information regarding the 2026 MAAC Women’s Golf Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/wgolf.
The 2026 MAAC Men's Golf Championship takes place April 28-30, 2026 and returns to Disney's Golf Course in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, for the 15th consecutive season dating back to 2011 and the 24th time overall since 2000. For all information regarding the 2026 MAAC Men’s Golf Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/mgolf.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
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