By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – For a second consecutive year, a Western Colorado University student-athlete claims the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s top men’s honor, as redshirt senior quarterback Drew Nash is the league’s 2025-26 Man of the Year, which was announced Wednesday.
Nash, a Torrance, California native, follows 2024-25 recipient Drew Noble as the league’s Man of the Year Award recipient. Noble was the first Western Colorado student-athlete and first RMAC men’s wrestler to receive one of the RMAC’s four major individual awards.
The Man of the Year Award will be presented during the 2026 RMAC Hall of Fame & Awards Banquet on Thursday, July 9, at COS City Hub in Colorado Springs. Doors will open at 5 p.m. MT, and the induction and awards ceremony will follow promptly at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at RMACSports.org/Tickets.
Nash led Western Colorado to back-to-back NCAA Division II Football Championship tournament appearances, reaching the second round in both the 2024 and 2025 editions. He was a two-time First Team All-RMAC selection and was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2025. Nash finished his career as the Mountaineers' all-time leader with 77 touchdown passes in his three seasons, completing 59.5 percent (547-of-1088) of his passes with only 19 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,454 yards and 23 touchdowns, finishing with 9,515 total offensive yards.
In the classroom, Nash graduated with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science from Western Colorado. He was named WCU’s Paul Wright Award winner, which is presented to the Mountaineers’ top male senior student-athlete. In 2025, Nash was the RMAC Academic Offensive Player of the Year for football and a Second Team Academic All-America selection by College Sports Communicators. He was also a three-time honoree on the National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter (NFFCC) All-Colorado Scholar Team.
“My experience as a student-athlete at Western Colorado shaped me into a leader who values hard work, resilience, and service to others,” said Nash. “Balancing the demands of academics and Division II football taught me discipline, accountability, and the importance of leading by example. However, I am most proud of the relationships built with my teammates and the culture of trust, commitment, and selflessness we created together.
“Beyond the field, I have embraced opportunities to represent my university and pursue my professional dreams. These experiences reinforced the value of perseverance and demonstrated that dedication can create opportunities to compete at the highest level. My journey has shown me the impact that leadership can have on others. Whether in the classroom, on the field, or in the community, I strive to positively influence those around me and inspire others to pursue their goals with confidence, integrity, and determination.”
Also nominated for the 2025-26 Man of the Year honor were Black Hills State University’s Cam Lowe, Chadron State College’s Chayton Bynes, Colorado Christian University’s Matthew Storer, Colorado Mesa University’s Caleb Schreiber, Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Nick McNeil, New Mexico Highlands University’s Ivan Smith, South Dakota Mines’ Augustus Fink, University of Colorado Colorado Springs’ Miles Seminario, and Westminster University’s Jack Cardwell.
The RMAC Man & Woman of the Year Awards, first presented in 2015-16, honor a graduating student-athlete with outstanding academic achievements, athletic accomplishments, community service, and leadership throughout their career. Each member institution may nominate a student-athlete for each award.
About the RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 71 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.
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