GLOUCESTER, Mass. – The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) has awarded Joe Cranston of UW-River Falls as the 2025-26 NCAA Division III Women's Hockey Coach of the Year, announced Thursday, March 26.

The CCM/AHCA Coach of the Year awards are sponsored by CCM Hockey and chosen by members of the AHCA. The award is Cranston's second of his career, previously winning the award in 2024. 

Cranston has led the Falcons to their eighth NCAA Tournament "Frozen Four" berth in program history. In his 26th season leading the Falcons, Cranston is the first and only head women's hockey coach in UWRF history and has 546 career wins, third most in NCAA Division III women's hockey history. His overall record is 546-161-48.

The Falcons enter the Frozen Four on a 24-game win streak, having lost their only game, a 4-1 loss to UWEau CLaire, on November 22. UWRF avenged that loss by defeating UWEC, 4-0, in the WIAC championship game. Now Cranston and the Falcons are seeking their third consecutive NCAA title.

A 1990 graduate of UW-River Falls, Cranston began his coaching career in his hometown of Fergus Falls, Minn., and then coached the boys' high school team in Somerset, WI, for over a decade before starting the UWRF women's hockey varsity program in 1999. He will receive his award at the AHCA Convention on Thursday, April 30, in Bonita Springs, Fla. Cranston was assisted this year by Jim Walsh, Amanda Ryder and Jeremy Weiss. The runner-up for this year's award was Justin Simpson of Norwich University.

Cranston and the Falcons will host Amherst College on Friday, March 27, in the NCAA Semifinals at 7 p.m.