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The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) announced Friday that men's golf is the 2015-16 Illinois Team of the Year, while Mike Small has been selected Illinois Coach of the Year. This marks the second time in three years that men's golf and Coach Small have received these awards, which were selected by vote of Fighting Illini head coaches and DIA executive staff.
It was a record-setting season for the Fighting Illini men's golf team, which has become one of the nation's strongest programs under Small's direction. Illinois won a school-record nine tournaments during the season, highlighted by a fourth-straight NCAA Regional title and seventh Big Ten Championship in the last eight years.
The Illini qualified for match play at the NCAA Championships for the fifth time in the last six years, earning the No. 2 seed following the stroke play portion of competition. The Illini then advanced to the semifinal round of the championship, finishing tied for third place to secure the program's fourth-straight national top-5 finish.
Senior Charlie Danielson became the first Illini golfer to earn All-America honors in four consecutive seasons, garnering PING first-team accolades as a senior after setting the Illinois single-season record with a 70.67 stroke average. He also was named Big Ten Golfer of the Year and won the Les Bolstad Award for leading the Big Ten in stroke average. Danielson won two event titles during the season and, just after concluding his collegiate career, qualified for the 2016 U.S. Open.
Like Danielson, Thomas Detry also capped his Illini career with a dominating senior season. Detry won the Big Ten Championship, shooting 10-under-par to earn medalist honors. He then finished third at the NCAA Kohler Regional and tied for 10th at the NCAA Championships. Detry also was a first-team All-Big Ten and PING All-Midwest Region selection.
Sophomores Dylan Meyer and Nick Hardy earned All-Region honors and all-conference recognition as well, with Meyer on the first team and Hardy a second-team pick. Meyer recorded four top-10 finishes on the year, led by runner-up at the Northern Intercollegiate, while Hardy claimed five top-10s, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Boilermaker Invitational. Hardy also qualified for the U.S. Open.
Freshman Edoardo Lipparelli came on strong during the spring as part of the Illini lineup, with his most memorable performance a NCAA match-play quarterfinal victory over No. 8-ranked Matt NeSmith of South Carolina. Senior Alex Burge competed in seven events during the season and won the inaugural Tom Cousins award, recognizing a college golfer who excels in academics, is engaged in the community and has demonstrated an ability to overcome adversity.
Mike Small was named 2016 Big Ten Coach of the Year, earning the award for the eighth time during his tenure. He also was a Dave Williams National Coach of the Year finalist.
2015-16 Illini Athletics Awards
Team of the Year: Men's Golf
Coach of the Year: Mike Small, men's golf
Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year: Jocelynn Birks, volleyball
Dike Eddleman Male Athlete of the Year: Isaiah Martinez, wrestling
Female Big Ten Medal of Honor: Allie Bauch, softball
Male Big Ten Medal of Honor: Charlie Danielson, golf
Female Newcomer of the Year: Jordyn Poulter, volleyball
Male Newcomer of the Year: Alex Diab, gymnastics
Female Fighting Illini Spirit Award: Taylore Peterson, soccer
Male Fighting Illini Spirit Award: Joe Spencer, football
Team of the Year History
2013-14: Men's Golf
2014-15: Baseball
2015-16: Men's Golf
Coach of the Year History
2013-14: Mike Small, men's golf
2014-15: Dan Hartleb, baseball
2015-16: Mike Small, men's golf
