By: Christina Cracolici, Director of Athletic Communications

GORHAM, Maine  –  After guiding the University of Southern Maine Huskies' baseball team to its first Little East Conference title and NCAA tournament appearance since the 2021 season, second-year head coach Scott Heath (Westbrook, Maine) was selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) as the 2026 ABCA/ATEC NCAA Division III Region II Coach of the Year.   Coaches of the Year are selected by members of the ABCA All-America and Coach of the Year Committees. 
 
In his second year at the helm of the Huskies' baseball program, Heath guided Southern Maine to 2026 Little East Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships.  Defeating Keene State 11-5 for the 2026 crown, the Huskies won their seventh overall LEC title, and first since 2021. In two seasons and counting with the Huskies, Heath has a record of 52-31, marking a 12-game improvement from his first season in Gorham (20-19). Earning the Little East Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tourney for the 27th time, the Huskies' hosted an NCAA Regional Championship, and advanced to the championship game before concluding the season at 32-12, the most wins for the program since the 2021 Huskies' squad went 34-11. 
 
Heath was named both the 2026 Little East Conference and Maine College Baseball & Softball Association (MCBSA) Coach of the Year. Eleven members of the Huskies' 2026 team earned All-Little East Conference honors, highlighted by Player of the Year Kyle Douin, Pitcher of the Year Gabe Gifford and Rookie of the Year Hayden Strout. Douin, Gifford and Strout were also named the MCBSA Player, Pitcher and Rookie of the Years respectively as eight Southern Maine players earned All-State honors.  Heath also guided seven ABCA All-Region selection in 2026 led by ABCA All-American and Regional Player of the Year Kyle Douin.