Brissette voted 2026 MIAA Wrestling Coach of the Year

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The University of Olivet head wrestling coach Brandon Brissette has been voted the 2026 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Wrestling Coach of the Year. He led the Comets to a perfect 4-0 record in the MIAA dual matches to secure the MIAA Championship. Brissette is earning this honor for a second straight season.

Brissette is finishing his 17th season leading the Comets. Since the MIAA reinstated wrestling in 2019, Olivet has captured conference championships (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025 and 2026). During the eight-season span, Brissette has led the Comets to a 26-3 dual match record, including perfect records in each championship season. In addition, 25 wrestlers have earned 35 All-MIAA awards. Four of those wrestlers were named the MIAA's Most Valuable Wrestler and two received the MIAA Senior Sportsman of the Year Award.

Since Brissette's first season at Olivet in 2009-10, at least one Olivet wrestler has qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championships in 14 of the possible 15 years. Five of the qualifiers earned NCAA All-American honors (top eight finish).

Brissette's teams have also done exceptionally well in the classroom, as the Comets were named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-America Team 12 times. Olivet was selected as the NWCA National Academic champion in 2013 and 2014. In addition, 49 student-athletes have received 96 NWCA Scholar All-American citations.

"This award is quite simply a staff award," said Brissette. "There is no way I could orchestrate the kind of improvement needed to win a conference title or have six guys in the regional rankings without the combined efforts of this staff. We lost 8 of 10 starters to graduation last year and had no returning regional placers. When you look at the progression of the guys over a single year you realize what strength they get from such a committed and diverse staff.

"I would like to thank Dylan (Phelps) and Ben (Kamali) particularly for their focus on the new guys overall connection and development, especially, with their campus roles. Thank you to Dennis (Paquette) and (Anthony) Jones for your insights and particularly for contributions individually to so many guys on mental and knowledge skills. And also thanks to Jim (Neal) and Jesse (Judge) who make our guys better in the room every day and make sure that all guys get the experiences they need to keep improving. Lastly, to all of them for trusting and standing with me. This is a great place to coach, and no place I'd rather be!"

WHAT OTHERS SAID

	Senior Jonathen Davis – "Directly following my last concussion and making the decision it was best for me to hang up my shoes; I went down to tell the coaches I was going to drop out of school. Coach Brissette and I sat down in his office and the first thing he said in a long, roundabout Brissette way was 'so when do you want to start helping with our weightlifting?' I brushed it off, feeling sorry for myself. Brissette persisted for months until I caved. The thing that sets Coach Brissette so far ahead of anyone else is his heart, he is a man who truly wants the best for every single one of his wrestlers not only on but off the mat. My biggest regret in college was not listening to him sooner. I hope one day to have the same compassion that he shows to others. Congratulations Coach, no better man deserves this honor."
	Senior Gideon Loewen – "Coach Brissette is great at what he does. This includes everything related to coaching the OWC as well as everything outside of wrestling. Along with teaching me and my teammates great technique, he has taught us how to become champions by coming together as a family. I am forever grateful for the four years I had wrestling for Coach Brissette. He has taught me how to overcome difficulties and how to become my best. Wishing him the best in the future. God, Family, OWC."
	Senior Darren McLeod – "Coach Brissette has had a major impact on my life since the day I met him. He has helped nurture not only my development as a wrestler, but also my growth as a person. He truly cares about us, and you can see it in the way he leads and supports our team. I can't even count the number of long conversations we've had over the years, time he could have easily spent elsewhere. He has guided me through some of the toughest moments I've faced during my time at Olivet. Coach Brissette brings incredible energy to our program, and his devoted faith shapes his leadership in a way that's contagious to everyone on the team. It's no surprise he has won this award for the second consecutive season; he truly earned it. Congratulations, Coach Brissette!"
	Assistant Athletic Director Jenessa Neal – "Brandon runs an amazing wrestling program. Not only have they won the MIAA championship six out of the last eight years, but Brandon and his staff have developed their guys into great humans. They stress the importance of God, Family, OWC and they truly embody that in their program. I am so proud of Brandon and what he has done and is still doing for Olivet Wrestling. We are fortunate to have had him as the head wrestling coach for as long as we have, he is such a genuine person and amazing coach!"