2026 ACAC Men's Basketball Coaches of the Year
Edmonton, AB (March 4, 2026) –
NORTH MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH OF THE YEAR, SHERAY THOMAS:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is proud to announce Sheray Thomas of the Lakeland Rustlers men’s basketball team has been named the 2026-2026 ACAC Men’s Basketball North Division Coach of the Year.
This is the second straight year he has won this award.
Coach Thomas has been at the helm of the men’s basketball program at Lakeland since 2015. During that time, the Rustlers only missed the playoffs once and have medaled three times, including a silver medal and a trip to the CCAA Championship tournament in 2018. In his 10 seasons coaching the team, Thomas has accumulated a 130-86 record in the regular season, with a 14-10 record in the playoffs.
This season has been the best yet in his tenure. The Rustlers went 17-3, losing only to nationally ranked opponents by a combined score of nine points and ending the campaign on a nine-game winning streak to finish first in the North Division. Statistically, they had the best offence and defence in the division and were plus 319 in point differential.
“Sheray has grown as a coach over the last numbers of years at Lakeland,” Lakeland Athletic Director Al Rogan said.
He has created a family culture inside of the basketball program that has led to success on and off the court.”
This prestigious award was recognized at the 2026 ACAC Men’s Basketball Championship hosted by Lakeland College in Lloydminster, AB.
SOUTH MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH OF THE YEAR, MATTHEW DALEY:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is proud to announce Matt Daley of the SAIT Trojans has been named the 2026 ACAC South Division Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year.
Daley led his Trojans to a perfect 21-0 regular season record this season, finishing first in the South Division and setting a new ACAC record for most wins in an undefeated regular season. He also becomes the fifth coach in SAIT men’s basketball history to win the award, joining Marty Birky (2017), Mike Stevens (2010), Phil Allen (1995) and Jamie Thomas (1987).
Before becoming head coach for the Trojans in the 2023-24 season, Daley was an assistant coach under Birky for two seasons - winning ACAC titles in 2022 and 2023, and a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) national championship in 2023.
“This recognition is a reflection of the standard Coach Daley brings to our program every day,” said SAIT Director of Athletics and Recreation, Wade Kolmel. “He has built a culture of accountability and competitiveness, and this season was a clear example of what that approach can achieve.”
This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2026 ACAC Men’s Basketball Championship hosted by Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Alta.
Daley will now represent the ACAC as the conference’s nominee for the CCAA Coach of the Year Award.
The Trojans will go into the ACAC Men’s Basketball Championship as the top seed in the South Division. They will open the three-day weekend with a quarter-final matchup Thursday at 3pm against the fourth seed from the North Division - the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder.
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Emily Peterson, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
emilyp@acac.ab.ca