The United Football League (UFL) announced on Thursday that Orlando Storm head coach Anthony Becht was named the 2026 Buddy Teevens UFL Coach of the Year.
Anthony Becht is 48 years old and is from Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. He was named the head coach of the Orlando Storm on December 23, 2025. In 2026, Orlando finished with the best record in the UFL at 8-2, making the playoffs in their first year. For Becht, it was the second consecutive season that his team finished with the best record in the UFL.
“I’m honored and grateful to receive this award,” said Becht. “Individual awards are always about the people around you. When you surround yourself with a great coaching staff and 50 players who fully buy into the process, you’re always rewarded tenfold on the backend. This award is a reflection of the commitment and work put in by everyone in our organization.”
Under his leadership, the Storm averaged 23.2 points per game, 310.2 yards per game, 220.7 passing yards per game, 89.5 rushing yards per game, and 24 touchdowns. His quarterback, Jack Plummer, completed 195 of 300 passes (65%) for 2,188 yards, 17 touchdowns, one interception, 30 carries for 189 yards, and two rushing touchdowns. Plummer led the league in completions and passing yards.
In college, Becht spent four seasons at West Virginia (1996-99) with 77 catches for 1,091 yards and 11 touchdowns in 38 games for the Mountaineers. He was named a two-time Second Team All-Big East.
In addition, Becht received the John Russell Award and was named the Mountaineer’s Most Valuable Player in 1999. He was inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.
The New York Jets drafted Becht in the first round (27th pick) of the 2000 NFL Draft. Becht was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2000. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, and the Kansas City Chiefs. In 11 seasons, Becht made 188 catches for 1,537 yards, 21 touchdowns, and eight tackles (6 solos, 2 assists) in 167 games.
After his playing career ended in 2011, he became a college football analyst for ESPN and hosted the New York Jets pregame show before being promoted to their radio color analyst in 2024. Becht would also coach Tight Ends in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl before taking the same position with the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football in 2018. After the AAF folded, he was named the St. Louis Battlehawks head coach on April 22, 2022.
Becht coached three seasons in St. Louis with a 22-8 record. He led the team to two playoff appearances.
In 2025, the Battlehawks finished 8-2, but lost to the D.C. Defenders in the XFL Conference Championship game. St. Louis averaged 23.1 points per game, 289.8 yards per game, 145.6 passing yards per game, 144.2 rushing yards per game, 23 touchdowns, and allowed 22 sacks.
