The Open Mat presents awards annually in three categories for each division of college wrestling at the conclusion of the season. Awards are presented for Wrestler of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year.

The Open Mat NCAA Women's Coach of the Year: Alexio Garcia (McKendree)

When Sam Schmitz announced his resignation as McKendree's women's wrestling coach in the spring of 2022 to take over as Central Methodist's director of wrestling and head men's wrestling coach, the future of McKendree's women's wrestling program was unknown. A dozen women's wrestlers at McKendree, almost half of the roster, entered the transfer portal, including multiple All-Americans. In addition, the program's assistant coach Gabrielle Weyhrich, who was named The Open Mat NAIA Women's Coach of the Year, left McKendree to become the head women's wrestling coach at Southern Oregon. Alexio Garcia had big shoes to fill but immediately stepped up to the challenge.

In Garcia's first season of coaching college wrestling at any level, he led McKendree to a third-place finish at the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships with 147.5 points. It came on the strength of three national champions and eight All-Americans. McKendree also took third place at the NWCA National Duals.

McKendree finished the season with three wrestlers ranked in the top five of The Open Mat's pound-for-pound rankings. 191-pounder Sydnee Kimber, ranked fifth in The Open Mat's pound-for-pound rankings, captured her fourth NCWWC championship, and was McKendree's first-ever Midlands champion. Cam Guerin, ranked third in the pound-for-pound rankings, won her third national title. Garcia coached Guerin at Davis High School in Yakima, Washington, where she was an undefeated four-time state champion. McKendree also added one of the nation's top college wrestlers to its roster when pound-for-pound No. 2 Emily Shilson transferred from Augsburg. While a November first-semester surgery was a major setback for Shilson, the Minnesota native found herself the right coach to guide her. Shilson, undefeated in college wrestling, arrived at McKendree in January and eventually won her historic fifth national championship with a dramatic come-from-behind pin in the finals over No. 8 pound-for-pound Sage Mortimer of King.

Shilson is one of several key transfers and signees Garcia has reeled in since being hired at McKendree. Other notable signees include Fargo champions Shelby Moore, Destiny Rodriguez, Savannah Gomez and Alexandra Castillo, on top of cadet world bronze medalist Lilly Freitas. Big-time transfers include NAIA runner-up Salyna Shotwell and NCWWC champion Olivia Shore. Perhaps all of this talent is showing up to McKendree for a reason. Respected women's wrestling coaches have referred to Garcia as a self-starter, tireless worker determined to hold himself and his team to a high standard, and someone with an unmatched energy and passion for the sport. With Alexio Garcia at the helm, the future appears to be extremely bright for the McKendree women's wrestling program.