Calvin's Austin Huizenga has been named the 2026 Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference Coach of the Year. Huizenga is the head coach of the Calvin ACHA D3 hockey team.

A 2020 Calvin University graduate, Huizenga is in his fifth year as head coach of the Calvin ACHA D3 hockey program. He has a career won-loss record of 79-26-8 which includes a run to the ACHA D3 National Tournament semifinals in 2024.

This year, he led Calvin to a first place finish in the MCHC West Division with a 9-0-1 conference record. The Knights then captured the MCHC Tournament title with wins over Aquinas, the University of Michigan and Oakland University. The win over Oakland – a 3-2 triumph – came in the MCHC Tournament Championship game and allowed the Knights to captured the Vezina Trophy for the first time since 2006.

At Calvin, Huizenga was a four-year member of the Calvin hockey program, playing for both its ACHA D3 team and later making the transition to the ACHA D1 level when the Knights split into two (ACHA D1 and ACHA D3) teams.

Also a native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School, Huizenga has the Knight ranked No. 1 in the ACHA D3 Top 25 poll and the top seed for next week's ACHA D3 National Tournament in St. Louis, Missouri. The Knights open tournament play next Wednesday, facing Purdue University at 8:15 p.m. (CT).