The 2025-26 athletic calendar year has wrapped with many programs finding success in the post season. Several coaches led their respective programs to postseason appearances and improved seasons.
As a result, a majority of the coaches have earned and signed contract extensions, a clear sign that they are part of the long term plans within their programs.
Here are the top five coaching performances from the 2025-26 season:
1. Tommy Lloyd, men’s basketball
Going into his fifth season in Tucson, Tommy Lloyd had assembled arguably one
of the greatest teams in program history. Lloyd brought back senior point guard Jaden Bradley, while also bringing in freshman talent in Koa Peat and Bryaden Burries.
The only question marks were Ivan Kharchenov, who Lloyd brought in late to the picture, and Motiejus Krivas who was coming off an injury. Very early on it was clear that even with the uncertainty of some pieces to the puzzle Arizona was ready to rumble with anyone.
The season started off with a thunderous win over the reigning NCAA champion Florida Gators in Las Vegas. Other key non-conference wins included a home win against No. 20 Auburn, a road win against No. 3 UConn, and neutral site wins against UCLA in Los Angeles and No. 12 Alabama in Birmingham.
Arizona went into Big 12 play with an undefeated record and kept it going all the way to a 23-0 record, the best start to a season and the longest winning streak in program history. Then the Wildcats took a stumble with back to back losses on the road at Kansas and the lone home loss to Texas Tech.
The push to the end of the season started following those losses as the Wildcats went into postseason play with a six game winning streak. Through those six wins, Arizona went on the road to beat Houston, and won the conference regular season title at home against Iowa State.
Earning the No.1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament, the Wildcats took advantage and won the tournament title. Then it was time for the ultimate test of the season, the NCAA Tournament.
After advancing past the first weekend, the Wildcats were matched up against a red hot Arkansas team. The Wildcats took an early lead and never let it go to beat Arkansas and advance to the Elite Eight to play Purdue. Now, Arizona faced the pressure of trying to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2001.
It took a second half comeback, but for the first time in 25 years Arizona was heading to the Final Four. However, the season would come to an end at the hands of Michigan. Nevertheless, it was Lloyd’s best season in his time at Arizona.
He earned his first Big 12 coach of the year award, and the Naismith coach of the year award. Lloyd also holds the record for most wins in his first five seasons as head coach with 148 wins.
Next year he hopes to improve on his 148-36 record and perhaps another Final Four run is in store. Lloyd also signed an extension through the 2031 season, and being in Tucson is now the clear long term plan for him.
2. Wes Johnson, Triathlon
After winning the athletic department’s 23rd national championship last season, Wes Johnson led Arizona to consecutive national titles. Arizona placed first in four of the five competitions this season, and senior Kelly Wetteland finished first in all competitions.
While triathlon may just be a rising sport across the NCAA, Arizona has established itself as a powerhouse program. In the National Championship, there were five Wildcats that finished inside the top ten.
Right behind Wetteland, Margareta Vrablova finished in second with Ellison Wolfe finishing seventh, Mia Wentzy right behind Wolfe, and Ruth Pardy rounded out the top ten. UA finished with 927 team points, which was 27 points higher than ASU.
Johnson earned his first coach of the year award and also signed a contract extension through the 2029 season. Arizona brings back its entire roster back to try and go for the three-peat.
3. Brent Brennan, Football
Following a 4-8 inaugural season in Tucson, Brent Brennan had his back against the wall. Not only did he need to prove what kind of program he was building, but he needed to show that the Wildcats can contend in the Big 12.
Step one, bringing back Noah Fifita to lead the team. Step two, add the tools around Fifita to contend in games. Now Arizona needs to take care of business where it could.
To start the season, the Wildcats blasted both Hawaii and Weber State. Then came an early test in Kansas State, and in a hard fought win the Wildcats started the season 3-0. However, Arizona took its first loss of the season on the road at Iowa State.
The Wildcats bounced back against Oklahoma State, but dropped their next two games against BYU and at Houston. Standing at 4-3, Arizona needed to get back on track and did so with a convincing win at Colorado.
Within one win away from bowl eligibility, the Wildcats earned a homecoming win against Kansas. The turnaround was not easy from the Kansas game as Arizona went on the road to take on No. 25 Cincinnati. In a major upset win, UA took down the Bearcats for the third straight win.
On senior day, Arizona used a second half blitz to beat Baylor and now faced a monumental matchup against ASU. It took a defensive masterclass for Arizona to bring back the Territorial Cup for a fifth straight win.
For just the third time in program history, Arizona was scheduled to play a game in the month of January. The Wildcats earned a spot in the Holiday Bowl to face SMU, but could not come out with a win.
Regardless, Brennan was able to pull off one of the best turnarounds in college football last season. Now he needs to do it again next season and prove that it was not a fluke season. His record at Arizona stands at 13-12 and earned a contract extension to coach through the 2030 season.
4. Clancy Shields, men’s tennis
After making it to the Sweet Sixteen in four of the last five years, Clancy Shields was ready to help the Wildcats make the jump to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.
In non-conference play, the Wildcats went 12-3 with ranked wins over Florida State and Pepperdine. Arizona went 8-0 in Big 12 play to earn the program’s first regular season conference title.
Arizona lost to TCU in the Big 12 Tournament Championship, but still earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Taking care of business in the opening rounds, the Wildcats were matched up against Oklahoma, who they had lost to at the beginning of the season.
After dropping the doubles matches point, Arizona had to win four out of the six singles matches to win the match. Three Wildcats were able to win their matches and it all came down to senior Jay Friend.
He was able to take the first set but dropped the second and it all came down to a deciding third set. Friend stepped up to sweep the third set, sending Arizona to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.
The season ended with a loss to No.1 seeded Wake Forest, but under Shields the Wildcats continue to rise as one of the most consistent programs in the country. He now holds a 184-78 record at Arizona and is signed through the 2029 season.
5. Charita Stubbs, Volleyball
Entering her third season as head coach, Charita Stubbs was coming off a NIVC Championships and had hopes to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. The Wildcats started the season 6-0 but dropped their next four games to finish non-conference play.
During Big 12 play, Arizona earned three ranked home wins against No.16 Baylor, No.13 TCU, and No.21 BYU. Finishing conference play at 10-8 and the regular season at 16-12, it was enough to earn the first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018.
Arizona was placed in the Stanford regional where they were matched up against South Dakota State. The Wildcats earned the first NCAA Tournament win since 2016 and moved on to the second round to face regional host Stanford.
The Wildcats could not advance to the Sweet Sixteen as they fell to Stanford. It was a short appearance in the tournament but as Stubbs has shown through her three seasons in Tucson, the continued small steps continue to show improvement season by season.
She signed a contract extension to coach Arizona through the 2030 season during the offseason. Last season also brought a new Taraflex court to McKale Center, another sign that the program is heading in the right direction and that Stubbs is fit to lead the charge.
