ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Rifle head coach
Mike Anti has been selected as the 2026 Heinz Lenz Fellowship Award Recipient.
"The Navy rifle team completed the 2026 NCAA Championship with a sixth-place national finish under head coach
Mike Anti," said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Michael Kelly. "Anti also earned his third GARC Coach of the Year honor in 2026, while guiding
Tyler Wee to CRCA and GARC Rookie of the Year recognition. Under his leadership, seven athletes have combined for 28 CRCA All-America honors and eight have earned 27 All-GARC distinctions, including two individual conference champions. Navy has also made four NCAA Championship appearances, five total qualifications, and secured seven Star victories over Army – including five straight.
"In recognition of his impact, Anti has been named the 2026 Heinz Lenz Fellow Award recipient, honoring his sustained excellence, leadership, and lasting influence on midshipmen."
The Naval Academy Class of 1973 created a fellowship in honor of the late Coach Heinz Lenz. The appointed coach, selected by the Athletic Director every two years, epitomizes Coach Lenz' leadership qualities and attributes. The award recognizes the importance of Athletics Excellence as a contributor to the overall mission of the Naval Academy to develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and wishes to commemorate the athletic excellence pillar in honor and memory of Coach Heinz Lenz.
In the spirit of Coach Lenz's total commitment to the development of young people in becoming Leaders of great character, the award recognizes a current varsity or club coach with an appointment to the Coach Heinz Lenz Chair. The appointment is for a two-year term, with an opportunity for one additional two-year term. The appointment consists of additional leadership and/or administrative opportunities, but comes with an annual monetary stipend sourced through the Naval Academy Foundation. The coach selected for this distinction is the head coach or an assistant coach of a non-revenue sport. The coach should epitomize Coach Lenz's leadership qualities and attributes, to include (but not be limited to): a keen sense of integrity; competitive team spirit; commitment to the Naval Academy mission; a joy and passion for his/her profession; and an expectation to win on the field and in life.
"On behalf of the rifle team and myself, we are very honored to receive the Heinz Lenz Fellowship Award," Anti said. "Because of this award, Coach Lenz will be remembered for his commitment to the physical mission and the development of Midshipmen for many years to come. Coach Lou [MacKenzie] and myself will do everything we can to continue to honor his legacy. This commitment, I think, is what every coach here at the Academy strives to achieve. Coach Lou and myself appreciate the acknowledgment, but also know that our success comes down to the commitment and dedication our student-athletes display every day at practice and on match days. This drive pushes us to be better coaches because our athletes deserve it."
Anti was named the head coach of the rifle team at the Naval Academy in May of 2017 after eight successful years as an assistant coach at the Air Force Academy and over 30 total years of experience with shooting, competing and coaching rifle.
During his tenure at the helm of the Midshipmen's rifle program, Anti has helped seven student-athletes to 28 Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) All-American accolades, including
Tyler Wee who was named the 2026 CRCA Rookie of the Year.
He has also mentored eight shooters to 27 All-Great America Rifle Conference (GARC) honors, including two individual GARC Champions –
Marleigh Duncan (Smallbore 2022) and
Parker Haydin (Aggregate 2023), while being named GARC Coach of the Year three times (2019, '22, '26).
Anti has led the Midshipmen to four NCAA Championship appearances, while qualifying for NCAAs five times (qualified in 2020, but event cancelled due to COVID-19).
Additionally, Navy has won seven Stars against Army under Anti, including five straight.
Men's rugby head coach Gavin Hickie was named the inaugural Heinz Lenz fellow in 2020, while women's soccer head coach Carin Gabarra was named the winner in 2022. Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jamie Cook was selected as the 2024 recipient.
Class projects like this raise funds to support an initiative of their choosing. The Class of 1973 Heinz Lenz Fellow, led by Dirk Mosis and Class Fundraiser, George Watt, has received great support from class alumni, providing Margin of Excellence support to Navy Athletics programs.
