After more than 4,000 submissions, Little League® is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Little League Coach of the Year Award, Supported by the Positive Coaching Alliance.
This annual award celebrates coaches who exemplify positive leadership, mentorship, and sportsmanship, and go above and beyond, to create positive, character-building experiences for young athletes in their communities. To be eligible for the award, all nominated coaches must have completed the Little League Diamond Leader Training and must have passed a background check and Little League Abuse Awareness Training for the current year, as per Little League volunteer rules.
As part of this recognition, each honoree’s local league will receive a $5,000 grant to help further their mission of providing a positive and accessible youth sports experience for all players. These remarkable coaches remind us that youth sports are about more than wins and losses—they’re about building community, instilling confidence, and helping young people fall in love with the game.
Little League Baseball® Coach of the Year: Chris Riley
Grand Mesa Little League (Grand Junction, Colo.)
Growing up, Chris Riley’s experience on the diamond was not full of fun, celebration worthy moments. Instead, he was left feeling disconnected from the game he loved. Years later, he witnessed his nephew starting to experience similar frustrations and decided to step up as a volunteer coach, determined to create a more positive environment that he never had as a player. Since then, throughout his 10 years with Grand Mesa Little League, Riley has served in several positions including League President and Coach, acting as a mentor for both the volunteers and the youth baseball and softball players. Over the years, his teams have achieved success on the field, including multiple state championship wins, but Riley’s greatest accomplishment are the lessons he teaches that go beyond the play on the diamond, building a space that makes every kid feel valued, supported, and capable of achieving their goals.
“It means a lot to be named Coach of the Year. Over the last decade, I’ve worked very hard with the groups of kids I’ve had, and it hasn’t always been easy. It’s a challenging environment, and it requires a lot. There are days you go home, and I’d be lying if I said there haven’t been moments over the last couple of years when I’ve asked myself, ‘What am I doing?’” said Riley. “But ultimately, the kids keep showing up, and so do I.”
Little League Softball® Coach of the Year: Sheena Kord
Auburn (Wash.) Little League
As a former Little Leaguer® herself, Sheena Kord works hard to ensure her son and daughter, and their fellow teammates, have a coach who knows the sport, understands the rules, teaches proper techniques, and cares about the kids beyond the play on the diamond. Kord’s positive attitude, patience, and unwavering encouragement creates an inclusive environment where every player feels valued, supported, and confident both on and off the field. Beyond teaching the fundamentals of the game, Kord emphasizes teamwork, sportsmanship, resilience, and the importance of believing in oneself. Whether she is offering a smile after a difficult game, celebrating a player’s accomplishments, supporting her team through challenges, or creating opportunities for her team beyond the Little League diamond, Kord works hard to make a lasting impact in the lives of her young athletes and her community.
“Being named Coach of the Year is a huge honor for me because I absolutely love the sport and I love Little League. I think it’s such a great experience for kids, and you only get to do it for so long. I feel like every kid should take advantage of it,” said Kord. “I’m just so honored because I feel that not only do my players respect me, but so do the parents. A lot of people ask me, ‘What are you doing that’s different from other coaches?’ I tell them that I look at every player differently. I see what their strengths and weaknesses are, and then I figure out what I need to do better for that player, so they feel comfortable on the team. I guess that really hits home for people. I’m still in complete shock and I’m very honored that people believe in me.”
Little League Challenger Division® Coach of the Year: Samantha Smith
Lincoln Park (Mich.) Little League
The Little League Challenger Division has been a program close to Samantha Smith’s heart since her son’s first days on the diamond. As he got older, she realized he, as someone who is nonverbal, needed something more suitable for his abilities. She spoke with David Cruz, who introduced her to Lincoln Park (Mich.) Little League’s Challenger Division, the program he started. She registered her son and during his first season she instantly fell in love with the joy she witnessed on the field. Six seasons of volunteering later, and she can’t imagine her life without it. As a coach, Smith goes above and beyond for her players, making each player interaction unique based on their needs. Smith serves as a mentor for parents in the program, encouraging them to be active and engage to promote a positive experience and help build relationships throughout the community, while also ensuring they feel comfortable and confident in the inclusive environment of the program for their child. Outside of Little League, Smith is a special education paraprofessional and assists with other adaptive programs throughout the community, including dance and ice skating.
“When I got the email letting me know that I was named Coach of the Year, I was at work and the kids were outside at recess. My phone went off with an email, and then someone sent me a message saying, ‘Hey, check your email!’ When I finally checked it, I literally started crying,” said Smith. “It means so much. It’s overwhelming joy because it shows that we’re doing something great. We’re moving in the right direction, making people happy, helping them feel like they’re part of something, and giving every player the opportunity to feel like an athlete and know they belong. Even off the field, I’ll see kids at school or other programs, and they’re so excited to talk about baseball. It’s about getting them involved, advocating for them, and making sure they feel like they’re part of something. I want to also thank all of my mentors and the parents throughout the league. The parents are so crucial because communication and building trust are so important. Having them trust me with their children on the field means everything.”
To learn more about the Coach of the Year Award, Supported by Positive Coaching Alliance, visit PositiveCoach.org.