Norman, Okla. – Fighting Illini head coach Mike Small has been chosen as a member of the Golf Coaches Association's 2016 Hall of Fame Class, as announced today by the organization. Small joins Vince Clark, Mike McGraw, Tim Poe, Jay Seawell and Dick Spybey in the 2016 class. The group will be officially inducted at the GCAA Hall of Fame Reception and Awards Banquet on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"It makes me feel good to be recognized by my peers; I am humbled" Small said. "To be in the Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame alongside some of the greatest coaches of all time is flattering. It's not something I was expecting or working to achieve, but it is a testament to the great players I've had, who have bought into our system and built something special. For the Hall of Fame committee to recognize that, it hasn't sunk in yet, it's pretty neat to have that legacy and to know that the work we have put in here has been valued and recognized. I have been to the awards ceremony before and have seen the other coaches that have been honored, it feels amazing to be in their company."
In his 16 seasons at the helm of the Illini program, Small has brought Illinois into national prominence. Small's teams have consistently been ranked among the top in the nation each year. Under his direction, the Orange and Blue have qualified for 12 NCAA Championships, advancing to the NCAA Championship Finals 11 times. Small's teams have continued to the match-play portion of the NCAA Championships a record five times. He coached two NCAA Individual Champions in Thomas Pieters and Scott Langley, and has sent several players on to successful careers on tour. With Small's guidance, Illinois has become one of just two schools in NCAA history to win four consecutive NCAA Regional titles. Small has coached seven Big Ten Championship teams and six individual conference champions over the past eight seasons.
The 2015 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year, Small has earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors a record eight times. Ten of Small's players have earned 21 All-America laurels.
Small's Illini teams are known not only for their talent on the course, but also for their strong character. Fighting Illini men's golfers have totaled 45 Academic All-Big Ten honors and 12 Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar honors. Three of his players have been presented the Big Ten Medal of Honor, while his student-athletes have also received the Tom Cousins Award and the Michael Carter Sportsmanship Award, among others.
The 2016-17 Illini squad is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the Golfweek Sagarin rankings, and the Orange and Blue were voted the top team in the country in the latest Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll. Illinois has earned two tournament victories this season, and will continue play Oct. 9-10 at the Northern Intercollegiate at Beverly Country Club in Chicago.
Stay tuned to FIGHITNGILLINI.com for the latest on Illinois men's golf.
