The Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an award given to the most outstanding men's basketball player in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The award was first given following the 1967–68 season. Four players have won the award multiple times: Tom Kozelko, Ron Harper, Gary Trent and Bonzi Wells. Trent is the only player to have been honored as player of the year three times (1993–95). There have been no ties, nor has any player from the MAC ever won any of the national player of the year awards. Through 2026, Ohio has the most all-time winners with 11. Toledo is second with eight winners. All current members of the MAC have had at least one winner except UMass, which played its first MAC season in 2025–26.
Key † Co-Players of the Year* Awarded a national player of the year award that same season: Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year (1904–05 to 1978–79) UPI College Basketball Player of the Year (1954–55 to 1995–96)Oscar Robertson Trophy (1958–59 to present) Naismith College Player of the Year (1968–69 to present) John R. Wooden Award (1976–77 to present) Player (X) Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the MAC Player of the Year award at that point
Winners
Season Player School Position ClassReference 1967–68 Miami F 1968–69 Toledo C 1969–70 Bowling Green SF 1970–71 Ohio G 1971–72 Toledo PF 1972–73 (2) Toledo PF 1973–74 Ohio SG 1974–75 Central Michigan PF / C 1975–76 Western Michigan SF 1976–77 Northern Illinois PF 1977–78 Miami PF 1978–79 Northern Illinois SF 1979–80 Toledo F 1980–81 Toledo SF 1981–82 Central Michigan SG 1982–83 Ball State PG 1983–84 Ohio C 1984–85 Miami SG 1985–86 (2) Miami SG 1986–87 Western Michigan SF / SG 1987–88 Eastern Michigan PF 1988–89 Ohio SF / SG 1989–90 Ohio SG 1990–91 Eastern Michigan PF 1991–92 Ohio SF 1992–93 Ohio PF 1993–94 (2) Ohio PF 1994–95 (3) Ohio PF 1995–96 Ball State SF 1996–97 Bowling Green PG 1997–98 (2) Ball State SF 1998–99 Miami SF / SG 1999–00 Bowling Green SF 2000–01 Central Michigan PG 2001–02 Bowling Green SG 2002–03 Central Michigan C 2003–04 Western Michigan SF / PF 2004–05 Buffalo PG 2005–06 Kent State PG 2006–07 Akron SF 2007–08 Kent State PG / SG 2008–09 Miami SG / SF 2009–10 Western Michigan G 2010–11 Kent State SF 2011–12 Buffalo C 2012–13 Ohio PG 2013–14 Buffalo PF 2014–15 Buffalo PF 2015–16 Ohio F 2016–17 Akron C 2017–18 Toledo SG / SF 2018–19 Buffalo SG 2019–20 Akron PG 2020–21 Toledo PG 2021–22 Kent State PG 2022–23 Toledo SG 2023–24 Akron PF 2024–25 Akron PG 2025–26 Miami SG
Winners by school School (year joined) Winners YearsOhio (1947)11 1971, 1974, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2013, 2016Toledo (1951) 8 1969, 1972, 1973, 1980, 1981, 2018, 2021, 2023Miami (1948)7 1968, 1978, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2009, 2026Akron (1992)5 2007, 2017, 2020, 2024, 2025Buffalo (1999) 5 2005, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019Bowling Green (1952)4 1970, 1997, 2000, 2002Central Michigan (1972) 4 1975, 1982, 2001, 2003Kent State (1951)4 2006, 2008, 2011, 2022Western Michigan (1948)4 1976, 1987, 2004, 2010Ball State (1973)3 1983, 1996, 1998Eastern Michigan (1972)2 1988, 1991Northern Illinois (1973/1997)2 1977, 1979Marshall (1954/1997) 0 — UMass (2025) 0 — Northern Illinois University was a member from 1973 to 1986, then left for a period. They rejoined in 1997, continuing as a member until leaving in 2026 for the Horizon League (with football joining the Mountain West Conference).}} Marshall University was a member starting in 1954 before being expelled from the conference in 1969 due to NCAA violations. The Thundering Herd rejoined in 1997, but left in 2005 for Conference USA.
References