COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference on Wednesday, July 1 announced that Western Colorado's Drew Nash has been selected as the 2025-26 RMAC Man of the Year.

The conference presents four major awards at the end of each year – Man, Woman of the Year; Male, Female Scholar Athletes of the Year – with Nash earning the Mountaineer football program's first of these major awards.

In addition, the Man of the Year award is Western's second consecutive honor as Dean Noble was presented with the 2024-25 award, not only Western's first RMAC major award honoree, but the first wrestler to earn any of the conference's four majors.

Nash and the other major award winners will be recognized at the July 9 RMAC Hall of Fame banquet in Colorado Springs.

Nash graduated from Western with a Bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science, earning multiple academic honors over his years with the Mountaineers. He was voted a 2025 second team College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-America® selection and a CSC Academic All-District® honoree in 2024 and 2025. A first-team RMAC All-Academic honoree in 2024 and 2025, this season he was voted the 2025 RMAC All-Academic Offensive Player of the Year in football.

He was named to the National Football Foundation-Colorado Chapter (NFFCC) All-Colorado Scholar Team in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and was a finalist for the 2025 NFFCC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Leading Western to consecutive second-round appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs (2024, 2025), Nash finished his career as the Mountaineer program's leader in career touchdown passes (77), second all-time in career passing yards (8,061 yards) and completions (647) while also ranking tied for seventh all-time for career rushing touchdowns (23).

His 33 touchdown passes in the 2025 season were the third most in DII, and his 11 rushing touchdowns ranked 29th, scoring results the lifted him to second in DII in points responsible for per game (22.0) and third in total points responsible for (264).

Only the second finalist from Western in Harlon Hill Award voting, Nash placed seventh in the 2025 voting, the highest finish by a Mountaineer, adding to national recognition that had already included All-American honors in 2024 and 2025 along with the DII Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Offensive Player of the Year (2025) and NFFCC Offensive Player of the Year (2025).

Nash's accomplishments earned him Western's 2025-26 Paul Wright Award, presented annually to the top male and female senior athletes based on a combination of athletic accomplishments, scholarship, and character.

"My experience as a student-athlete at Western Colorado University has shaped me into a leader who values hard work, resilience, and service to others," said Nash. "Balancing the demands of academics and Division II football taught me discipline, accountability, and the importance of leading by example. However, I am most proud of the relationships built with my teammates and the culture of trust, commitment, and selflessness we created together.

"Beyond the field, I have embraced opportunities to represent my university and pursue my professional dreams. These experiences reinforced the value of perseverance and demonstrated that dedication can create opportunities to compete at the highest level. My journey has shown me the impact that leadership can have on others. Whether in the classroom, on the field, or in the community, I strive to positively influence those around me and inspire others to pursue their goals with confidence, integrity, and determination."

Presented first in 2015-16, the RMAC Man and Woman of the Year Awards "honor a graduating student-athletes with outstanding academic achievements, athletic accomplishments, community service, and leadership throughout their career," as described in the official RMAC announcement.