Mike Anti, head coach of the Navy rifle team, has been awarded the 2026 Heinz Lenz Fellowship Award, recognizing his exceptional leadership and commitment to the Naval Academy's mission. This honor follows a successful season where Navy achieved a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championship and earned Anti his third GARC Coach of the Year accolade. Under his guidance, notable accomplishments include 28 All-America honors for seven athletes, as well as multiple NCAA Championship appearances and victories against Army. The fellowship, named in memory of Coach Heinz Lenz, recognizes the importance of athletic excellence in developing midshipmen into moral and physically fit leaders.

By the Numbers
  • Navy rifle achieved a sixth-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Championship.
  • Seven athletes achieved 28 CRCA All-America honors under Anti's leadership.
  • Anti has been named GARC Coach of the Year three times (2019, 2022, 2026).
  • Navy has won seven Star victories over Army, including five straight.
State of Play
  • Mike Anti has served as head coach since May 2017, after a successful assistant coaching career at the Air Force Academy.
  • This season, Tyler Wee earned CRCA and GARC Rookie of the Year honors under Anti's coaching.
  • Anti's tenure has led to multiple NCAA Championship qualifications, despite setbacks like the 2020 cancellation due to COVID-19.
What's Next

Moving forward, Coach Anti and the Navy rifle team will aim to continue building on their strengths and maintaining their competitive edge, focusing on further NCAA Championship successes while honoring Coach Heinz Lenz's legacy.

Bottom Line

The recognition of Mike Anti as the Heinz Lenz Fellow serves as a powerful testament to his positive impact on midshipmen and the sport, illustrating the vital role that leadership in athletics plays in the overall development of future leaders.