University of North Texas Athletics
Maier Named American Conference Freshman of the Year
5/5/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's Golf
DENTON, Texas – UNT men's golfer Mitchell Maier was named American Conference Freshman of the Year and a member of the All-Conference team, the league office announced Tuesday.
Originally out of Richmond, Texas, Maier is the program's fourth conference Freshman of the Year recipient and first since Vicente Marzilio in 2021. He was also the only freshman across the American to receive All-Conference status and gives UNT back-to-back freshman honorees after Blake Keen's selection last season. The Mean Green have now had at least one All-Conference team member in 20 of the past 21 seasons, including all three under head coach Luke Calcatera.
"Individual awards are a reflection of team impact and Mitch made us better every day," Calcatera said. "I'm really proud of him and how far he has come this season. He is an elite competitor and brings the energy and laughs each day."
Maier put together an impressive freshman campaign that featured a team-low stroke average of 72.67 and six top-20 finishes. As one of two players to start in all 11 tournaments, Maier led the Mean Green with 122 birdies, six eagles and five rounds in the 60s. He was the team's highest finisher six times and shot a third-round 65 at the Argent Financial Classic, which led to seventh place in his collegiate debut and was ultimately the lowest 18-hole score by a UNT player all season.
The best performance of Maier's season came last week at the American Conference Championship, where he shot 12-under to finish two strokes back of the lead in third. Behind 16 birdies and three consecutive sub-par rounds, his final total of 204 matched the program's best 54-hole score ever at a conference tournament.
Player of the Year
Wilhelm Ryding, South Florida
Freshman of the Year
Mitchell Maier, UNT
Coach of the Year
Ryan Cabbage, Charlotte*
All-Conference Team
Erik Olin, UAB
Daniel Boone, Charlotte
Seb Cave, Charlotte
Chase Cline, Charlotte*
Frazer Jones, Charlotte
Justin Matthews, Charlotte*
Diego Lourenco, Memphis
Yixiang Wang, Memphis
Mitchell Maier, UNT
Lukas Boandl, Rice*
Daniel Zou, Rice
Wilhelm Ryding, South Florida*
* - Unanimous selection
