RICHMOND, Va. – VCU has been tabbed the Atlantic 10 Conference favorite by league coaches, the A-10 announced Monday.
 
The Rams, who have won five A-10 titles since joining the league in 2012-13, received 133 points in a poll of the league's 12 head coaches. VCU earned three first-place votes and edged crosstown rival Richmond (130). Rhode Island was close behind with 125 points.
 
VCU placed fourth at the A-10 Championships last season. The Rams will return to Evermore Resort in Orlando, Fla. April 27-29 as they aim for their first conference crown since 2024.
 
Led by second-year Head Coach Tyler Schmutz, the Rams have shown the look of a title contender this season. VCU closed the fall campaign with a win at the Monterrey Collegiate Classic in Monterrey, Mexico. The Black and Gold promptly opened the spring season with a victory at the Bentwater Intercollegiate Feb. 9-10 in Montgomery, Texas.
 
Additionally, a VCU player has placed first in three consecutive tournaments. Freshman Carson Looney (Bethesda, Md.) claimed medalist honors at Monterrey, and later finished atop the leaderboard at the Donald Ross Intercollegiate March 9-11. Sophomore Tanner Cadieux (Greensboro, N.C.) added his first career medalist honor at Bentwater. The Rams also return 2025 All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection Braden O'Grady (Edmonton, Alberta).
 
The Rams will return to the course March 30-31 when they head to the Seahawk Intercollegiate, held at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C.
 
ATLANTIC 10 CONFERENCE MEN'S GOLF PRESEASON POLL
1-VCU (3) - 133
2-Richmond (5) - 130
3-Rhode Island (3) - 125
4-George Mason (1) - 93
5-Dayton - 89
6-George Washington - 77
7-Loyola Chicago - 74
8-Davidson - 69
9-La Salle - 52
10-Saint Joseph's - 42
11-Fordham - 26
     St. Bonaventure -26
First-place votes in parenthesis