INDIANAPOLIS – RMU softball student-athlete Courtney Poulich was named the 2025-26 female Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor recipient, announced by the Horizon League this afternoon.
 
The Coleman Medal of Honor, first awarded in 1981, is the conference's most prestigious individual honor. The award is presented annually to the top male and female student-athletes who demonstrate outstanding achievement in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities.
 
Candidates for the Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor award must be seniors who have graduated or exhausted their eligibility and were participants in a Horizon League sponsored sport. Nominees must have a grade-point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 to be considered.
 
"Quite simply, I am in awe of Courtney and James and all that they have accomplished in the classroom and on the field and in the pool, respectively," said Horizon League Commissioner Jill Bodensteiner. "Courtney and James represent all that is great about college athletics, and I am excited to see what they achieve in the future. I would also like to thank and congratulate the coaches and administrators at RMU and YSU who have created an environment that fosters elite academic and athletic success."
 
Poulich is the first RMU student-athlete to earn a Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor. She is the eighth softball student-athlete to earn the award.
 
"I am incredibly honored and grateful to receive this award from the Horizon League, especially among so many talented student-athletes," said Poulich. "My time at Robert Morris University has shaped me in ways that go far beyond the field, pushing me to grow as both an athlete and a person. I am thankful for the unwavering support of my coaches, teammates, professors, and staff who have played such a big role in my journey and helped make this achievement possible. This recognition is a reflection of all the people who have poured into me throughout my time at RMU."
 
Poulich posted a perfect 4.00 GPA, studying health science at RMU. She was named to the 2026 Academic All-America® Second Team by the College Sports Communicators and also earned Horizon League Spring Scholar-Athlete of the Season honors this season.
 
On the field, she was the 2026 #HLSB Player of the Year and set Horizon League single-season records for home runs (25) and RBIs (88). In 2025, she was tabbed the #HLSB Championship MVP and is also a two-time All-League First Team Selection. In 2026, she was also an NFCA All-Region Second Team honoree.
 
Poulich served as captain for the Colonials for the past two seasons and her community involvement includes volunteering with Special Olympics and the American Cancer Society and running local softball clinics.
 
"This is yet another amazing and well-deserved recognition for Courtney," said Head Coach Jexx Varner. "She is a wonderful person, teammate, leader, student and ball player. She has not only rewritten the standard for our program but, in many ways, for Horizon League softball as a whole. What she has given to Robert Morris University and the young women of our sport is incredible and will be felt for years. I am so proud of her, and I am grateful to the Horizon League for this recognition of a truly remarkable Colonial!"
 
Finalists for the Coleman Medal of Honor are below:
 
Cleveland State – Carl Gedlitschka, Men's Tennis & Ella Franz, Women's Tennis
Green Bay – Preston Ruedinger, Men's Basketball & Jenna Guyer, Women's Basketball
Milwaukee – Nadiia Konieva, Women's Tennis
Northern Kentucky – Natnael Weldemichael, Cross Country/Track and Field & Cameron Bittermann, Track and Field
Oakland – Nicholas Karel Subagyo, Swimming and Diving & Maggie Murphy, Softball
Purdue Fort Wayne – Colten Gasson, Cross Country/Track and Field & Ava Genovese, Cross Country/Track and Field
RMU – Ryan Prather, Men's Basketball & Courtney Poulich, Softball
Wright State – Patrick Statzer, Cross Country/Track and Field & Lauren Scott, Women's Basketball
Youngstown State – James Slessor, Swimming and Diving & Jordan Truelsch, Swimming and Diving
 
Winners in bold^
 
To view a list of all Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor recipients, click here.
 
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