Career Highlights | Photo Gallery
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced Thursday a new six-year contract for Fighting Illini Head Men's Golf Coach, Mike Small. The contract, which was approved today by the University Board of Trustees, is worth a total of more than $2.0 million in base salary over the six years and runs through the conclusion of the 2021-22 season. The contract takes effect immediately and also includes a $600,000 buyout, should Small elect to leave the University for another position.
"Quite simply, Mike Small is the finest collegiate golf coach in the country," Whitman said. "His record speaks for itself, in the success of his student-athletes both during and after their time at Illinois. He has defied the odds and built the Fighting Illini golf program into one of the nation's elite. This contract demonstrates our mutual commitment to Mike spending the rest of his career leading the men's golf program at Illinois."
"I'm very grateful and excited that Josh (Whitman) and the University have extended my contract to keep me in the Illini family," Small said. "I started as an Illini and I intend to finish my career as an Illini. I'm extremely grateful to the administration for showing confidence in me and for recognizing the success that we have achieved so far. Illinois athletics has been part of family for my entire life, and I treat my time in this position as a lifestyle, not as a job. I am proud of what this program has done over the past 16 years, and I am excited for the future."
Now in his 17th season at the helm of the Illini, Small has brought Illinois into national prominence. Under Small's direction, Illinois has 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 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 seven of Small's players have earned GCAA All-Academic 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.
As a playing professional, Small is a 2013 inductee of the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame and owns 12 Illinois PGA Championship trophies. Small made his debut on the Champions Tour this spring, playing in three events and making the cut at the U.S. Senior Open. He is a four-time Illinois Open Champion and has participated in 12 major championships during his career. Since he began coaching at Illinois, Small has made the cut in 15 of 34 PGA Tour events.
