What a tremendous 2026 spring sports season it was for UGA athletic teams. The deep run by the Diamond Dawgs was truly historic, which hopefully you’ve already read about in our special baseball salute on pages 45-49. What a season!
Below, from the golf course, tennis courts, diamonds, and track field, we take a look back at the spectacular spring in UGA athletics. And huge congrats go to the entire athletic department for finishing ranked No. 8 in 2026 Learfield Directors’ Cup. It is the second time in four years that UGAAA finished in the top-10 … Woof, Woof, Woof!
TRACK & FIELD
Both the UGA Men’s and Women’s Track teams led by director of Track and Field Caryl Smith Gilbert had their best seasons in school history. The 2026 Women’s Track and Field team won both the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championship and the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championship, giving them back-to-back national championship titles. Their top performers included Adaejah Hodge who was named SEC Women’s Freshman Runner of the Year and Dejanea Oakley who won the NCAA indoor 400-meter hurdles at the outdoor national meet. The 2026 Men’s Track and Field team finished their season as National Championship runnerup. The Bulldogs finished th at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, its highest outdoor finish since 2018. Their best players from the season included Rudolph Blaze who won the NCAA outdoor title in 400 meters and Malachi Snow who is the NCAA Champion in 110-meter hurdles.
MEN’S GOLF
Can’t start this one without first congratulating Coach Chris Haack on an incredible 30-year coaching career. The 2026 UGA Golf Team had another stellar season in Coach Haack’s final season. Georgia competed against one of the nation’s toughest tournament schedules. They also hosted the NCAA Athens Regional where the Bulldogs finished in 5th place to advance to the NCAA Championship in Carlsbad, California. In the NCAA Championship, the team finished outside the top eight teams needed to advance to match play, ending its season after the stroke-play portion of the championship. Most recently, one of UGA’s best golfers Carter Loflin won the Dogwood Invitational at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta, shooting a 263 total. Mookie DeMoss will lead the team as head coach next season.
DAWGS ON TOUR
On the PGA Tour, Russel Henley had his 6th career PGA tour tournament win and ninth overall professional tournament win at the Charles Schwab Challenge tournament at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. In the final round, Henley birdied the final four holes, including the first hole in a sudden death playoff, to defeat Eric Cole. In the US Open, Keith Mitchell finished tied for fourth place which is his best finish in a major tournament in his career so far. He became the first player in US Open history to have all four rounds at even par, shooting at 70 in all four rounds. Go “Cashmere!”
TENNIS
It was an amazing tennis season for both the men’s and women’s teams as both teams hosted the NCAA Regional at Dan Magill Tennis Center in Athens. Another great season for third year head coach Drake Bernstein’s women netters as they entered the season as defending national champions. The Lady Bulldogs finished with a 22-6 record and earned a top seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced deep into the national championship bracket. Unfortunately, in a classic battle at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex with a raucous Bulldog crowd, Texas A&M prevailed in the semi-final round. The terrific season was led by standout players including Aysegul Mert and Anastasiia Lopata. The men’s team, led by second year head coach Jamie Hunt, finished with a 20-9 record with a loss to Mississippi State in the Super Regionals.
SOFTBALL
Last but not least, the 2026 UGA softball team led by head coach Tony Baldwin was again one of the best NCAA softball teams in the country earning a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. They hosted NCAA Regional competition in Athens with wins versus College of Charleston, UNC Greensboro and Clemson and advanced to the Super Regionals. They finished with a record of 41-20. Some of their top performers included Jadyn Goodwin who was one of Georgia’s top offensive stars from last season, Randi Roelling who was one of the best standout pitchers, and Lilli Backes, another great standout pitcher.