Wake Forest Athletics
Steve Forbes Named 2026 Recipient of NABC Guardians of the Game Award for Advocacy
3/4/2026 10:58:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Forbes has been an active member of the coaching community and serves on the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Wake Forest men's basketball head coach Steve Forbes has been named the 2026 recipient of the National Association of Basketball Coaches Guardian of the Game Award for Advocacy. In addition to being a 37-year veteran in the coaching ranks at both the NCAA and NJCAA levels, Forbes currently serves on the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Oversight Committee where he provides coaching perspective to the group's efforts to shape the strategic direction of the sport.
The NABC presents awards to recipients who embody the core values of advocacy, leadership, service, education and inclusion.
"The NABC Guardians of the Game platform is a reflection of the impact coaches and industry leaders
make on campuses and communities across the country," said NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson. "This year's recipients embrace that their jobs are about much more than basketball, and the NABC is honored to celebrate them with these prestigious Guardians of the Game awards."
Now in his sixth season guiding Wake Forest, Forbes became the third-fastest head coach in program history to reach the 100-win mark trailing only Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famers Dave Odom and Skip Prosser. In a victory over Georgia Tech on Feb. 11, Forbes earned his 400th career victory as a head coach. Over the last five seasons, Wake Forest has earned the fifth-most wins in ACC play and the Demon Deacons are one of only two conference programs with 70 wins at home during that span as well.
In 2022 – following a 19-win turnaround – Forbes was named ACC Coach of the Year and Wake Forest is currently the only school with four-straight first-team All-ACC selections. It was his second coach of the year selection at the Division I level, as he was named SoCon Coach of the Year along with being selected as the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year – given annually to the most outstanding mid-major coach – in 2020.
Forbes later this year will also be inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame after serving in coaching roles at Southwestern Community College, Barton Community College and Northwest Florida State College, where he led the Raiders to back-to-back national runner-up finishes.
Steve Forbes Career Wins As Head Coach
Forbes will be honored at the NABC Convention Welcome Reception on Friday, April 3 in Indianapolis.
The NABC presents awards to recipients who embody the core values of advocacy, leadership, service, education and inclusion.
"The NABC Guardians of the Game platform is a reflection of the impact coaches and industry leaders
make on campuses and communities across the country," said NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson. "This year's recipients embrace that their jobs are about much more than basketball, and the NABC is honored to celebrate them with these prestigious Guardians of the Game awards."
Now in his sixth season guiding Wake Forest, Forbes became the third-fastest head coach in program history to reach the 100-win mark trailing only Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famers Dave Odom and Skip Prosser. In a victory over Georgia Tech on Feb. 11, Forbes earned his 400th career victory as a head coach. Over the last five seasons, Wake Forest has earned the fifth-most wins in ACC play and the Demon Deacons are one of only two conference programs with 70 wins at home during that span as well.
In 2022 – following a 19-win turnaround – Forbes was named ACC Coach of the Year and Wake Forest is currently the only school with four-straight first-team All-ACC selections. It was his second coach of the year selection at the Division I level, as he was named SoCon Coach of the Year along with being selected as the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year – given annually to the most outstanding mid-major coach – in 2020.
Forbes later this year will also be inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame after serving in coaching roles at Southwestern Community College, Barton Community College and Northwest Florida State College, where he led the Raiders to back-to-back national runner-up finishes.
Steve Forbes Career Wins As Head Coach
| School | Wins | Years As Head Coach |
| Wake Forest | 107 | 2020-Present |
| ETSU | 130 | 2015-20 |
| Northwest Florida State | 62 | 2011-13 |
| Barton Community College | 68 | 1995-98 |
| Southwestern Community College | 36 | 1991-93 |
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