OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University baseball program has been recognized for its success in the classroom, earning the 2025-26 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Award, presented by Sports Attack.
The award recognizes high school and collegiate baseball programs that posted a cumulative team grade-point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale during the 2025-26 academic year. Ottawa was one of nearly 500 collegiate programs nationwide to receive the honor and was among just 36 NAIA institutions recognized by the ABCA.
"This recognition reflects the commitment our student-athletes have made to excellence both on the field and in the classroom," said Ottawa University head baseball coach Jonathan Freemyer. "Our players understand the importance of representing Ottawa University in every aspect of the collegiate experience, and I am proud of the discipline and work ethic they demonstrated throughout the academic year. This award is a testament to their dedication and to the support they receive from our faculty, staff, and academic services team."
Following the conclusion of the spring semester, ABCA member head coaches were invited to nominate their programs for the award. To qualify, teams were required to be led by a current ABCA member head coach and achieve a cumulative team GPA of at least 3.0 during the 2025-26 academic year.
The American Baseball Coaches Association has a long tradition of recognizing excellence throughout the sport. In addition to the Team Academic Excellence Award, the organization sponsors the ABCA/Rawlings All-America Teams, All-Region Awards, Regional and National Coaches of the Year honors, the ABCA Hall of Fame, and the Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award.
Ottawa joined an impressive list of NAIA programs receiving the honor, including Arizona Christian, Bellevue, Benedictine, Briar Cliff, Campbellsville, Corban, Graceland, Indiana Wesleyan, Morningside, Northwestern (Iowa), Southwestern College (Kan.), University of Saint Mary, University of St. Francis, and Warner, among others.
