Small Named Midwest Region Coach of the Year
May 31, 2019 | Men's Golf
CHAMPAIGN – Fighting Illini head men's golf coach Mike Small was named Golf Pride Grips Midwest Region Coach of the Year on Friday, as announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America. The 2019 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Small has garnered Midwest Region Coach of the Year honors 10 times in his career.
This season, Small led the Illini to their fifth consecutive Big Ten Championship title, and the 10th in the last 11 years. The Orange and Blue continued their success at the 2019 NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional winning the team title and advancing to the NCAA Championships for the 12th consecutive season. Illinois' 12 NCAA Championship appearances mark the longest active streak in the nation, second only to Texas (13). Under Small's guidance, UI finished among the top five in nine tournaments this season, taking home five event titles, also including the Madconald Cup and the Fighting Irish Classic
In his freshman season, Adrien Dumont de Chassart became Illinois' 21st Big Ten Championship medalist and the ninth consecutive Big Ten Individual Champion under Small's direction. Junior Michael Feagles also earned the individual title at the NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional, as he fired a career-low 201 to propel himself to the top of the leaderboard. He is the fifth NCAA Regional medalist in school history. Feagles was named an All-Big Ten First Team honoree this season, and joined Dumont de Chassart, Bryan Baumgarten and Giovanni Tadiotto as PING All-Region selections. Illinois has placed four or more individuals on the All-Region list in seven-straight seasons. Dumont de Chassart, Baumgarten and Tadiotto were also honored by the Big Ten Conference, as they earned All-Big Ten Second Team recognition.
Small's first-career Midwest Region Coach of the Year laurel came in 2003. He also earned the nod in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018.
The Illini will return all nine members of the squad next year in Luke Armbrust, Bryan Baumgarten, Varun Chopra, Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Michael Feagles, Noah Gillard, Tommy Kuhl, Brendan O'Reilly and Giovanni Tadiotto. The program will also welcome freshman Jerry Ji (Hoofdorp, Netherlands).
Stay tuned to FightingIllini.com for the latest on Illinois men's golf.
Golf Pride Grips Region and District Coaches of the Year
Division I
Northeast - Colin Sheehan, Yale
East - Jerry Haas, Wake Forest
Southeast - Scott Schroeder, North Florida
Midwest - Mike Small, Illinois
Central - Jason Enloe, SMU
West - Conrad Ray, Stanford
