University of Illinois Men's Golf

Small has coached seven Big Ten Players of the Year with the addition of Scott Langley (2010) and James Lepp (2003). Smalls 2015-16 squad continued to build upon the successes of the previous season, as the Illini were voted the nations top team in five of seven Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches polls throughout the regular season. The Orange and Blue earned a school-record seven regular season tournament victories during the year, en route to even more postseason success. The Illini brought home another Big Ten Championship title, the seventh under Smalls direction, before advancing to the NCAA Kohler Regional. Small guided his Illini to the programs fourth consecutive NCAA Regional victory, and the Orange and Blue became one of just two teams in history to have earned four consecutive regional titles. Illinois continued on to make its ninth consecutive NCAA National Championships appearance, advancing to the semifinal round of match play for the second consecutive season. Smalls Illini have earned a top-5 national finish in each of the last four seasons. Small coached three Illini to All-America honors during the season, including four-time All-American, Charlie Danielson. Danielson and Thomas Detry capped off their Illini careers in style, earning top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championship. Small was once again a finalist for the Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award, and he was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career. Thanks to Smalls direction, Danielson and Detry turned pro in the summer following their collegiate careers. Detry started his professional career on a high note with consecutive finishes among the top six. Danielson qualified for the U.S. Open before representing the United States at the Arnold Palmer Cup as well. Following his sophomore season, Nick Hardy took medalist honors at the Springfield, Ohio U.S. Open qualifier, advancing to the prestigious tournament for the second consecutive year. The 2014-15 season was one of the strongest for the Illini to date as Smalls program continued to show consistency year after year. Ranked No. 1 in the country for a majority of the season, Illinois advanced to the semifinal round of match play at the 2015 NCAA Championships after earning both Big Ten Championship and NCAA Regional Championship titles. The Illini took home a school-record eight team tournament titles on the season, and saw each of its five starters earn medalist honors at least once throughout the year. In his freshman season, Hardy earned co-Medalist honors at the Big Ten Championships and senior Brian Campbell earned his second-straight NCAA Regional title. Campbell joined then-juniors Detry and Danielson as All-Americans. The 2014 campaign was strong for Smalls Illini as the Orange and Blue qualified for the NCAA match-play finals for the third time in four years before falling to top-seeded Stanford in the days final pairing. Illinois extended its streak of reaching the NCAA Championships to seven straight seasons, equaling the fourth-longest string of appearances, and notched three more All-Americans as Campbell, Danielson and Detry garnered the honor. By tying for fifth place at the NCAA Championships, the Illini recorded their ninth top-25 finish in Smalls 14 years at the helm. The Fighting Illini narrowly missed a magical finish in 2013, making a memorable run to an NCAA runner-up finish. Illinois qualified for the NCAA Championships for the sixth-straight year and reached the match-play finals for the second time in three years. After reaching the match-play portion, the Orange and Blue knocked off defending NCAA champion Texas in the quarterfinals and upset No. 1 California - dubbed by many as the greatest college golf team ever - in the semifinals when Thomas Pieters beat 2013 NCAA medalist Max Homa in 20 holes. But the Illinis magic ran out against Alabama, with the Crimson Tide taking a 4-1 victory in the championship match. In addition to the runner-up finish, Illinois captured its fifth-straight Big Ten championship with a nine-stroke victory over Minnesota and won the first NCAA Regional championship in program history with a three-stroke victory over host Arkansas at the Fayetteville Regional. In all, the Illini won six tournaments in 2012-13, second-most in school history. Pieters and then-freshman Danielson earned honorable mention PING All-America honors, while Pieters was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Detry earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. Pieters turned pro following the season and played a number of events on the European Tour and European Challenge Tour throughout the summer. In 2012, Small guided his club to the NCAA Championships and in 2011, the Illini completed their best NCAA finish since 1941, finishing third in stroke play to reach the NCAA match play quarterfinals before tying for fifth overall. Small has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year a conference-record eight times in his career (2016, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2002), taking home the top honor for the fifth year in a row in 2013. He also has been named Midwest Regional Coach of the Year eight times in his career (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2003), including each of the past four seasons. Under his direction, Illinois athletes have won 21 All-America honors and 38 All-Big Ten accolades. Smalls players continue to see success after college as well. Illinois boasts four alumni on the PGA Tour in Steve Stricker, D.A. Points, Scott Langley and Luke Guthrie, and both Joe Affrunti and Brian Campbell are making waves on the Web.com Tour. Illinois graduates Chris DeForest (2011), Langley (2010, 12 and 13), Brian Campbell (2015) and Charlie Danielson (2016) also have qualified for the U.S. Open, as did current Illini Nick Hardy in 2015 and 2016. Both Langley and Campbell earned low amateur finishes at the prestigious tournament. Several Illini have represented the program on a national level, competing in the Arnold Palmer Cup, as Langley also won the clinching match at the Palmer Cup in 2010 and Thomas Pieters, also helped Europe clinch the 2012 Palmer Cup by halving both of his singles matches in the event. Thomas Detry went 3-1 in helping Europe to a 2014 Palmer Cup win in 2014, while Charlie Danielson received the events Michael Carter sportsmanship award in 2016. Langley, Pieters and Detry also represented the United States on the national team for the World Amateur Team Championships in Argentina. Illinois most recent NCAA champion, Pieters, is currently playing on the European Tour and Detry started his professional career on the Challenge Tour with a bang. The 2016 graduate earned back-to-back finishes among the top six in his first two events of the summer, including a runner up finish at the Najeti Open. Pieters has had continued his success on the European Tour, winning back-to-back tournaments in 2015. His Czech Masters title marks his first victory on the Tour. In addition to success on the course, Smalls players have also had academic success, capturing several Big Ten Medal of Honor awards with Scott Langley in 2011, Luke Guthrie in 2012 and Charlie Danielson in 2016. Additionally, his players have earned 45 Academic All-Big Ten honors. Small provides the Illini with the unique combination of a respected teacher/coach and a current playing professional wrapped up in one man that has lifted Illinois into national contender. Small has the distinction of playing on a Big Ten championship team and coaching seven. As a former full-time professional, he can share with aspiring tour players what it takes to play at the next level. As someone who still competes and succeeds at a handful of high-profile events each year, he has had a chance to rub elbows with the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Year-by-Year Highlights The 2015-16 campaign featured Illinois ninth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance and the programs fourth consecutive NCAA Regional victory. The Illini took home their second consecutive Big Ten Championship title on their way to a top-three finish at the National Championship. The Orange and Blue were voted the No. 1 team in the nation in five Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches Polls throughout the year, and three Illini earned All-America honors in Charlie Danielson, Thomas Detry and Dylan Meyer. Danielson was named Big Ten Player of the Year and earned the leagues Les Bolstad Award, while Detry took medalist honors at the conference championship. The Illini won a school-record eight tournament titles during the 2014-15 season, and each of the Illini starters took home an individual medal. Illinois earned the No. 1 seed at the 2015 NCAA Championships heading into match play, after winning both the Big Ten Championship and the 2015 NCAA Noblesville Regional titles. The Illini advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA Championships, and saw Brian Campbell, Charlie Danielson and Thomas Detry earn All-America honors once again. The Illini swept the Big Ten yearly honors as freshman Nick Hardy also earned co-Medalist honors at the Championships. Illinois tied for fifth at the 2014 NCAA Championships, reaching the match-play finals for the second-straight season and third time in the last four campaigns. The Illini won their second-straight NCAA Regional title and four total tournaments. Brian Campbell was a second-team All-American, Big Ten Player of the Year and broke the school single-season scoring record. Charlie Danielson and Thomas Detry both were honorable mention All-Americans. In 2012-13, the Illini stunned the world of college golf, finishing as the NCAA runner-up after winning their first NCAA Regional title and fifth-straight Big Ten championship. Thomas Pieters was an honorable mention All-American, Big Ten individual champion and Player of the Year, and Charlie Danielson was an honorable mention All-American. In 2011-12, Illinois continued its winning tradition, adding another NCAA and Big Ten individual champion to the record books along with a fourth-consecutive Big Ten team title and fifth-straight trip to the NCAA Championships. In 2010-11, the Illini completed their best NCAA finish since 1941, reaching the NCAA match play quaterfinals and tying for fifth overall. Over the past four years, Illinois has consistently been ranked in the top 10 in the country, finishing seventh in the 2011 Golfweek computer rankings. In 2009-10, Scott Langley won the NCAA title while the Illini advanced to the NCAA for the third straight year. The Illini ended the season ranked in the top 10 after its second straight Big Ten crown. In 2008-09, Illinois won the Big Ten championship, advanced to the NCAA finals and claimed titles in seven tournaments overall, including the prestigious Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational. During the 2007-08 season, Illinois recorded the lowest individual (63, Chris DeForest) and team (272) round in school history. The Illini advanced to the NCAA Championships, finishing 17th. Scott Langley was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. In 2006-07, senior Kyle Hosick placed 10th at the Big Ten Championships and was named a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar. Small directed a young Illinois team to a solid year in 2005-06. The Illini recorded four top-five finishes as six different players in the lineup combined for a total of 11 individual top-10 finishes. Patrick Nagle earned All-Region and All-Big Ten honors while Mark Ogren also earned all-conference accolades. He led his squad to four top-three finishes in 2004-05, including runner-up honors at the Bruce Fossum/TaylorMade Invitational, a tournament that featured nine Big Ten teams. During the 2003-04 season, Illinois finished runner-up at the Big Ten Championships for the third-straight year and made its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Central Regional. In 2002-03, the Illini recorded the lowest 72-hole team score in school history, finishing runner-up at the Big Ten Championships for the second year in a row. Illinois went on to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Central Regional, marking the UIs best performance ever at regionals. Small was recognized for Illinois stellar season by being named the Eaton Golf Pride Midwest Region Coach of the Year. In 2001-02, he directed the resurgence of the Illinois program and was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. The Illini finished as Big Ten runner-up and placed fourth at NCAA Regionals. Illinois qualified for the NCAA Championships, finishing 18th. Playing Career Highlights When Mike Small returned to Champaign, Ill., in June of 2000 to take over as head coach, it came following a decade of golfing professionally, including five years spent on the PGA Tour and what is now the Web.com Tour. Small continues to compete on a limited basis in PGA tour events. Although not playing full time, he does so with some impressive results. When he competes, he shows off his Illinois colors and attracts many proud alumni in the gallery. Small was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in October 2013. Considered by many to be the greatest golfer the state of Illinois has ever produced, Small became the youngest man to ever be enshrined in the hall of fame. The summer of 2007 saw arguably the biggest of those successes when he won the low club professional at the 2007 PGA Championship and shared the award stand with its champion Tiger Woods on national television. Four years later, he again earned low club professional honors at the 2011 PGA Championship, where he has honored alongside PGA champion Keegan Bradley on CBS. Playing Career Synopsis Appeared on the PGA TOUR Champions, making the cut in three tournaments including the U.S. Senior Open. Won his record 12th Illinois PGA Championship.  Continued his success at the Illinois PGA Championship, earning his 11th title.  Inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in October as the hall's youngest member. Qualified for his ninth PGA Championship and 12th career major. Also won his record 10th Illinois PGA championship and will compete as part of the United States team at the PGA Cup in September. Qualified for his eighth PGA Championship, the 11th major of his career. Earned low club professional honors for the second time at the PGA Championship, which he played for the seventh time in his career. Won his record tying third PGA Professional National Championship and second in a row. He also claimed his record ninth Illinois PGA title and eighth straight with a convincing 11-stroke victory at Olympia Fields. Small also earned his third PGA Professional Player of the Year honor. Small won the PGA Professional National Championship for the second time in his career. He made the cut in the 2005 and 2007 PGA and missed the cut by a stroke in 2006. The summer of 2008 saw Small win the Illinois PGA title for the sixth straight year and seventh overall, both event records. Small won the PGA Professional of the Year award for the second straight year and was honored as the low club professional at the PGA Championship. He claimed the Illinois PGA championship for a record sixth time and fifth in a row, and won his fourth straight Illinois Open. He also won the Illinois Match Play Championship and qualified for his third U.S. Open. Small was named the PGA Professional Player of the Year by the PGA of America after another brilliant summer. He made the cut in five of nine PGA Tour events, highlighted by a season-high finish of 38th at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. He also finished fourth at the PGA Professional National Championship, earning a berth to his third consecutive PGA Championship. In addition to his success nationally, Small also won Illinois Open and Illinois PGA titles for the second straight year. He remains the only golfer ever to win both titles in the same year, a feat he has now achieved four times. It was his third Illinois Open victory and fourth consecutive IPGA title, as well as his fifth all-time. The summer proved to be one of the most spectacular in Small's professional career. In June, he won the PGA Professional National Championship, held at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, S.C., earning an exemption for the second consecutive year to the PGA Championship, as well as earning six exemptions for PGA Tour events in 2006. Small then reached a professional pinnacle in August when he made the cut at the PGA Championship at historic Baltusrol in Springfield N.J., marking the first time in four career tries that he advanced to the weekend in a major. Small continued his summer run by winning his third consecutive Illinois PGA Championship, marking the second time in three years that he won both Illinois Open and IPGA titles in the same year. His dramatic run concluded in September when he led a 10-member U.S. team across the Atlantic to compete against Great Britain and Ireland in the 22nd PGA Cup, a club professional version of the Ryder Cup. Following the national club pro title, Small made the cut at the PGA Tour's Western Open for the third straight year. He then won his second Illinois Open Championship, storming back from a five-shot deficit to win the title on the strength of a final-round 67. Small repeated as the Illinois PGA Champion, claiming his third IPGA title in four years. Small finished 7-under par at Royal Melbourne and broke the course record with a 65 during round two. He then went on to take runner-up honors at the PGA Professional National Championship, missing medalist honors by just one stroke after shooting 11-under par at the Longaberger Course in Nashport, Ohio. For the second straight summer, Small made the cut at the PGA Tour's Western Open. He tallied three straight rounds under par at Cog Hill's Dubsdread Course, and had a hole-in-one during the second round of play when he aced the 180-yard hole No. 2. Small was listed on the leaderboard entering Sunday's final round, in sixth place, before finishing tied for 27th. Small's memorable summer culminated in August when he traveled to Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis., to compete in his first-ever PGA Championship, which also marked his third career appearance in a major. Small made an amazing return to competitive golf in the spring of 2003 after an arm injury and subsequent rehabilitation kept him from playing for nearly a year. He won the 2003 Illinois PGA and Illinois Open titles, becoming the first golfer ever to win both tournaments in the same year. His win at the Illinois PGA qualified him for the Western Open. Small made the cut at the prestigious PGA Tour event, finishing in 43rd place at 3-under par. He also finished fourth at the 2003 Northern Club Pro to qualify for the 2004 PGA Professional National Championship. In the summer of 2002, he finished second at the Illinois PGA Championship. In the summer of 2001, Small won the Illinois PGA title, placed second in regional qualifying for the 2002 PGA Professional National Championship and set the course record at Stone Creek, carding an 8-under-par 64. College Career Small was a letterwinner on the Illinois squad from 1985-88. He was a member of the 1988 Big Ten Championship team and finished second individually in that tournament behind teammate and current PGA Tour member Steve Stricker. Small was named to the All-Big Ten squad and earned first-team NCAA Region IV honors. He earned medalist honors in two tournaments during his senior year at Illinois, winning both the Butler National Intercollegiate and the Michigan State Spartan Classic. Small joined the professional ranks in 1990. Personal Information A native of Danville, Ill., Small has returned to the area where he grew up. Small was a standout at Danville High School where he won four letters in golf and two in basketball. Before becoming an Illini, Small won the Junior Masters in 1984. He went on to have a successful career for the Fighting Illini before receiving his bachelor's degree in business administration from Illinois in 1988. Small's father, Bill, was the captain of the 1963 Big Ten Champion Fighting Illini basketball team. Bill earned All-Big Ten accolades and won three varsity letters during his Illini career, which spanned from 1961-63. Small's brother, Andy, also was an award-winning Fighting Illini athlete. Andy was a member of the 1990 Big Ten Champion Illinois baseball squad. He won four varsity letters as an infielder. Small, his wife, Ann, and their two sons, Will and Wyatt, reside in Champaign. Head coach Mike Small has brought national recognition to the Illinois golf program in his 16 years at the helm of the program. The 2015 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year guided the Illini to Big Ten Championship titles in seven of the last eight seasons and coached two NCAA individual champions in that span (Scott Langley: 2010 and Thomas Pieters: 2012). He also has coached five consecutive Big Ten Players of the Year in Luke Guthrie - a two-time individual Big Ten champion who held the programs career stroke average record at the end of his career - Thomas Pieters - a two-time All-American who helped the Illini to an NCAA runner-up finish in 2013 - Brian Campbell, who broke Guthries season stroke average and earned All-America honors in 2014 - Thomas Detry a three-time All-American who is among Illinois career stroke average leaders - and Charlie Danielson Illinois first and only four-time All-American who again reset the all-time low season stroke average. In all, Small has coached seven Big Ten Players of the Year with the addition of Scott Langley (2010) and James Lepp (2003). Smalls 2015-16 squad continued to build upon the successes of the previous season, as the Illini were voted the nations top team in five of seven Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches polls throughout the regular season. The Orange and Blue earned a school-record seven regular season tournament victories during the year, en route to even more postseason success. The Illini brought home another Big Ten Championship title, the seventh under Smalls direction, before advancing to the NCAA Kohler Regional. Small guided his Illini to the programs fourth consecutive NCAA Regional victory, and the Orange and Blue became one of just two teams in history to have earned four consecutive regional titles. Illinois continued on to make its ninth consecutive NCAA National Championships appearance, advancing to the semifinal round of match play for the second consecutive season. Smalls Illini have earned a top-5 national finish in each of the last four seasons. Small coached three Illini to All-America honors during the season, including four-time All-American, Charlie Danielson. Danielson and Thomas Detry capped off their Illini careers in style, earning top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championship. Small was once again a finalist for the Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award, and he was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career. Thanks to Smalls direction, Danielson and Detry turned pro in the summer following their collegiate careers. Detry started his professional career on a high note with consecutive finishes among the top six. Danielson qualified for the U.S. Open before representing the United States at the Arnold Palmer Cup as well. Following his sophomore season, Nick Hardy took medalist honors at the Springfield, Ohio U.S. Open qualifier, advancing to the prestigious tournament for the second consecutive year. The 2014-15 season was one of the strongest for the Illini to date as Smalls program continued to show consistency year after year. Ranked No. 1 in the country for a majority of the season, Illinois advanced to the semifinal round of match play at the 2015 NCAA Championships after earning both Big Ten Championship and NCAA Regional Championship titles. The Illini took home a school-record eight team tournament titles on the season, and saw each of its five starters earn medalist honors at least once throughout the year. In his freshman season, Hardy earned co-Medalist honors at the Big Ten Championships and senior Brian Campbell earned his second-straight NCAA Regional title. Campbell joined then-juniors Detry and Danielson as All-Americans. The 2014 campaign was strong for Smalls Illini as the Orange and Blue qualified for the NCAA match-play finals for the third time in four years before falling to top-seeded Stanford in the days final pairing. Illinois extended its streak of reaching the NCAA Championships to seven straight seasons, equaling the fourth-longest string of appearances, and notched three more All-Americans as Campbell, Danielson and Detry garnered the honor. By tying for fifth place at the NCAA Championships, the Illini recorded their ninth top-25 finish in Smalls 14 years at the helm. The Fighting Illini narrowly missed a magical finish in 2013, making a memorable run to an NCAA runner-up finish. Illinois qualified for the NCAA Championships for the sixth-straight year and reached the match-play finals for the second time in three years. After reaching the match-play portion, the Orange and Blue knocked off defending NCAA champion Texas in the quarterfinals and upset No. 1 California - dubbed by many as the greatest college golf team ever - in the semifinals when Thomas Pieters beat 2013 NCAA medalist Max Homa in 20 holes. But the Illinis magic ran out against Alabama, with the Crimson Tide taking a 4-1 victory in the championship match. In addition to the runner-up finish, Illinois captured its fifth-straight Big Ten championship with a nine-stroke victory over Minnesota and won the first NCAA Regional championship in program history with a three-stroke victory over host Arkansas at the Fayetteville Regional. In all, the Illini won six tournaments in 2012-13, second-most in school history. Pieters and then-freshman Danielson earned honorable mention PING All-America honors, while Pieters was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Detry earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. Pieters turned pro following the season and played a number of events on the European Tour and European Challenge Tour throughout the summer. In 2012, Small guided his club to the NCAA Championships and in 2011, the Illini completed their best NCAA finish since 1941, finishing third in stroke play to reach the NCAA match play quarterfinals before tying for fifth overall. Small has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year a conference-record eight times in his career (2016, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2002), taking home the top honor for the fifth year in a row in 2013. He also has been named Midwest Regional Coach of the Year eight times in his career (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2003), including each of the past four seasons. Under his direction, Illinois athletes have won 21 All-America honors and 38 All-Big Ten accolades. Smalls players continue to see success after college as well. Illinois boasts four alumni on the PGA Tour in Steve Stricker, D.A. Points, Scott Langley and Luke Guthrie, and both Joe Affrunti and Brian Campbell are making waves on the Web.com Tour. Illinois graduates Chris DeForest (2011), Langley (2010, 12 and 13), Brian Campbell (2015) and Charlie Danielson (2016) also have qualified for the U.S. Open, as did current Illini Nick Hardy in 2015 and 2016. Both Langley and Campbell earned low amateur finishes at the prestigious tournament. Several Illini have represented the program on a national level, competing in the Arnold Palmer Cup, as Langley also won the clinching match at the Palmer Cup in 2010 and Thomas Pieters, also helped Europe clinch the 2012 Palmer Cup by halving both of his singles matches in the event. Thomas Detry went 3-1 in helping Europe to a 2014 Palmer Cup win in 2014, while Charlie Danielson received the events Michael Carter sportsmanship award in 2016. Langley, Pieters and Detry also represented the United States on the national team for the World Amateur Team Championships in Argentina. Illinois most recent NCAA champion, Pieters, is currently playing on the European Tour and Detry started his professional career on the Challenge Tour with a bang. The 2016 graduate earned back-to-back finishes among the top six in his first two events of the summer, including a runner up finish at the Najeti Open. Pieters has had continued his success on the European Tour, winning back-to-back tournaments in 2015. His Czech Masters title marks his first victory on the Tour. In addition to success on the course, Smalls players have also had academic success, capturing several Big Ten Medal of Honor awards with Scott Langley in 2011, Luke Guthrie in 2012 and Charlie Danielson in 2016. Additionally, his players have earned 45 Academic All-Big Ten honors. Small provides the Illini with the unique combination of a respected teacher/coach and a current playing professional wrapped up in one man that has lifted Illinois into national contender. Small has the distinction of playing on a Big Ten championship team and coaching seven. As a former full-time professional, he can share with aspiring tour players what it takes to play at the next level. As someone who still competes and succeeds at a handful of high-profile events each year, he has had a chance to rub elbows with the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Year-by-Year Highlights The 2015-16 campaign featured Illinois ninth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance and the programs fourth consecutive NCAA Regional victory. The Illini took home their second consecutive Big Ten Championship title on their way to a top-three finish at the National Championship. The Orange and Blue were voted the No. 1 team in the nation in five Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches Polls throughout the year, and three Illini earned All-America honors in Charlie Danielson, Thomas Detry and Dylan Meyer. Danielson was named Big Ten Player of the Year and earned the leagues Les Bolstad Award, while Detry took medalist honors at the conference championship. The Illini won a school-record eight tournament titles during the 2014-15 season, and each of the Illini starters took home an individual medal. Illinois earned the No. 1 seed at the 2015 NCAA Championships heading into match play, after winning both the Big Ten Championship and the 2015 NCAA Noblesville Regional titles. The Illini advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA Championships, and saw Brian Campbell, Charlie Danielson and Thomas Detry earn All-America honors once again. The Illini swept the Big Ten yearly honors as freshman Nick Hardy also earned co-Medalist honors at the Championships. Illinois tied for fifth at the 2014 NCAA Championships, reaching the match-play finals for the second-straight season and third time in the last four campaigns. The Illini won their second-straight NCAA Regional title and four total tournaments. Brian Campbell was a second-team All-American, Big Ten Player of the Year and broke the school single-season scoring record. Charlie Danielson and Thomas Detry both were honorable mention All-Americans. In 2012-13, the Illini stunned the world of college golf, finishing as the NCAA runner-up after winning their first NCAA Regional title and fifth-straight Big Ten championship. Thomas Pieters was an honorable mention All-American, Big Ten individual champion and Player of the Year, and Charlie Danielson was an honorable mention All-American. In 2011-12, Illinois continued its winning tradition, adding another NCAA and Big Ten individual champion to the record books along with a fourth-consecutive Big Ten team title and fifth-straight trip to the NCAA Championships. In 2010-11, the Illini completed their best NCAA finish since 1941, reaching the NCAA match play quaterfinals and tying for fifth overall. Over the past four years, Illinois has consistently been ranked in the top 10 in the country, finishing seventh in the 2011 Golfweek computer rankings. In 2009-10, Scott Langley won the NCAA title while the Illini advanced to the NCAA for the third straight year. The Illini ended the season ranked in the top 10 after its second straight Big Ten crown. In 2008-09, Illinois won the Big Ten championship, advanced to the NCAA finals and claimed titles in seven tournaments overall, including the prestigious Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational. During the 2007-08 season, Illinois recorded the lowest individual (63, Chris DeForest) and team (272) round in school history. The Illini advanced to the NCAA Championships, finishing 17th. Scott Langley was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. In 2006-07, senior Kyle Hosick placed 10th at the Big Ten Championships and was named a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar. Small directed a young Illinois team to a solid year in 2005-06. The Illini recorded four top-five finishes as six different players in the lineup combined for a total of 11 individual top-10 finishes. Patrick Nagle earned All-Region and All-Big Ten honors while Mark Ogren also earned all-conference accolades. He led his squad to four top-three finishes in 2004-05, including runner-up honors at the Bruce Fossum/TaylorMade Invitational, a tournament that featured nine Big Ten teams. During the 2003-04 season, Illinois finished runner-up at the Big Ten Championships for the third-straight year and made its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Central Regional. In 2002-03, the Illini recorded the lowest 72-hole team score in school history, finishing runner-up at the Big Ten Championships for the second year in a row. Illinois went on to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Central Regional, marking the UIs best performance ever at regionals. Small was recognized for Illinois stellar season by being named the Eaton Golf Pride Midwest Region Coach of the Year. In 2001-02, he directed the resurgence of the Illinois program and was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. The Illini finished as Big Ten runner-up and placed fourth at NCAA Regionals. Illinois qualified for the NCAA Championships, finishing 18th. Playing Career Highlights When Mike Small returned to Champaign, Ill., in June of 2000 to take over as head coach, it came following a decade of golfing professionally, including five years spent on the PGA Tour and what is now the Web.com Tour. Small continues to compete on a limited basis in PGA tour events. Although not playing full time, he does so with some impressive results. When he competes, he shows off his Illinois colors and attracts many proud alumni in the gallery. Small was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in October 2013. Considered by many to be the greatest golfer the state of Illinois has ever produced, Small became the youngest man to ever be enshrined in the hall of fame. The summer of 2007 saw arguably the biggest of those successes when he won the low club professional at the 2007 PGA Championship and shared the award stand with its champion Tiger Woods on national television. Four years later, he again earned low club professional honors at the 2011 PGA Championship, where he has honored alongside PGA champion Keegan Bradley on CBS. Playing Career Synopsis Appeared on the PGA TOUR Champions, making the cut in three tournaments including the U.S. Senior Open. Won his record 12th Illinois PGA Championship.  Continued his success at the Illinois PGA Championship, earning his 11th title.  Inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in October as the hall's youngest member. Qualified for his ninth PGA Championship and 12th career major. Also won his record 10th Illinois PGA championship and will compete as part of the United States team at the PGA Cup in September. Qualified for his eighth PGA Championship, the 11th major of his career. Earned low club professional honors for the second time at the PGA Championship, which he played for the seventh time in his career. Won his record tying third PGA Professional National Championship and second in a row. He also claimed his record ninth Illinois PGA title and eighth straight with a convincing 11-stroke victory at Olympia Fields. Small also earned his third PGA Professional Player of the Year honor. Small won the PGA Professional National Championship for the second time in his career. He made the cut in the 2005 and 2007 PGA and missed the cut by a stroke in 2006. The summer of 2008 saw Small win the Illinois PGA title for the sixth straight year and seventh overall, both event records. Small won the PGA Professional of the Year award for the second straight year and was honored as the low club professional at the PGA Championship. He claimed the Illinois PGA championship for a record sixth time and fifth in a row, and won his fourth straight Illinois Open. He also won the Illinois Match Play Championship and qualified for his third U.S. Open. Small was named the PGA Professional Player of the Year by the PGA of America after another brilliant summer. He made the cut in five of nine PGA Tour events, highlighted by a season-high finish of 38th at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. He also finished fourth at the PGA Professional National Championship, earning a berth to his third consecutive PGA Championship. In addition to his success nationally, Small also won Illinois Open and Illinois PGA titles for the second straight year. He remains the only golfer ever to win both titles in the same year, a feat he has now achieved four times. It was his third Illinois Open victory and fourth consecutive IPGA title, as well as his fifth all-time. The summer proved to be one of the most spectacular in Small's professional career. In June, he won the PGA Professional National Championship, held at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, S.C., earning an exemption for the second consecutive year to the PGA Championship, as well as earning six exemptions for PGA Tour events in 2006. Small then reached a professional pinnacle in August when he made the cut at the PGA Championship at historic Baltusrol in Springfield N.J., marking the first time in four career tries that he advanced to the weekend in a major. Small continued his summer run by winning his third consecutive Illinois PGA Championship, marking the second time in three years that he won both Illinois Open and IPGA titles in the same year. His dramatic run concluded in September when he led a 10-member U.S. team across the Atlantic to compete against Great Britain and Ireland in the 22nd PGA Cup, a club professional version of the Ryder Cup. Following the national club pro title, Small made the cut at the PGA Tour's Western Open for the third straight year. He then won his second Illinois Open Championship, storming back from a five-shot deficit to win the title on the strength of a final-round 67. Small repeated as the Illinois PGA Champion, claiming his third IPGA title in four years. Small finished 7-under par at Royal Melbourne and broke the course record with a 65 during round two. He then went on to take runner-up honors at the PGA Professional National Championship, missing medalist honors by just one stroke after shooting 11-under par at the Longaberger Course in Nashport, Ohio. For the second straight summer, Small made the cut at the PGA Tour's Western Open. He tallied three straight rounds under par at Cog Hill's Dubsdread Course, and had a hole-in-one during the second round of play when he aced the 180-yard hole No. 2. Small was listed on the leaderboard entering Sunday's final round, in sixth place, before finishing tied for 27th. Small's memorable summer culminated in August when he traveled to Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis., to compete in his first-ever PGA Championship, which also marked his third career appearance in a major. Small made an amazing return to competitive golf in the spring of 2003 after an arm injury and subsequent rehabilitation kept him from playing for nearly a year. He won the 2003 Illinois PGA and Illinois Open titles, becoming the first golfer ever to win both tournaments in the same year. His win at the Illinois PGA qualified him for the Western Open. Small made the cut at the prestigious PGA Tour event, finishing in 43rd place at 3-under par. He also finished fourth at the 2003 Northern Club Pro to qualify for the 2004 PGA Professional National Championship. In the summer of 2002, he finished second at the Illinois PGA Championship. In the summer of 2001, Small won the Illinois PGA title, placed second in regional qualifying for the 2002 PGA Professional National Championship and set the course record at Stone Creek, carding an 8-under-par 64. College Career Small was a letterwinner on the Illinois squad from 1985-88. He was a member of the 1988 Big Ten Championship team and finished second individually in that tournament behind teammate and current PGA Tour member Steve Stricker. Small was named to the All-Big Ten squad and earned first-team NCAA Region IV honors. He earned medalist honors in two tournaments during his senior year at Illinois, winning both the Butler National Intercollegiate and the Michigan State Spartan Classic. Small joined the professional ranks in 1990. Personal Information A native of Danville, Ill., Small has returned to the area where he grew up. Small was a standout at Danville High School where he won four letters in golf and two in basketball. Before becoming an Illini, Small won the Junior Masters in 1984. He went on to have a successful career for the Fighting Illini before receiving his bachelor's degree in business administration from Illinois in 1988. Small's father, Bill, was the captain of the 1963 Big Ten Champion Fighting Illini basketball team. Bill earned All-Big Ten accolades and won three varsity letters during his Illini career, which spanned from 1961-63. Small's brother, Andy, also was an award-winning Fighting Illini athlete. Andy was a member of the 1990 Big Ten Champion Illinois baseball squad. He won four varsity letters as an infielder. Small, his wife, Ann, and their two sons, Will and Wyatt, reside in Champaign.

Barlow was part of Illinois' Big Ten championship teams in 2009 and 2010. In his first two seasons with the Illini, Barlow has helped coach the Illini to back-to-back big Ten Championship titles in addition to consecutive NCAA Regional victories. Barlow helped Illinois return to the NCAA Championship Semifinals in each of his seasons with the program, as the squad finished among the top three in the nation in both the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns. Barlow has coached two Big Ten Players of the Year in Charlie Danielson (2016) and Thomas Detry (2015), and helped guide both Detry and then-freshman Nick Hardy to Big Ten Championship Medalist honors in consecutive seasons.   With Barlows assistance, the 2014-15 squad recorded a school-record nine tournament titles, including earning a No. 1 seed into the match play portion of the NCAA National Championship. The 2015-16 team continued to build on that momentum, winning a program-best seven regular season event titles on the way to a total of nine tournament victories on the year. With Barlows coaching the 2015-16 squad was voted No. 1 in five Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Polls throughout the season, and four of five starters spent the year ranked among the top-100 amateur golfers in the world. "I'm pumped to be back in Champaign," Barlow said when he was hired. "When I was in school, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm really looking forward to it. It sounds a little bit clichéd, but I miss Champaign. I'll never be able to repay what it means to me, but it's an honor to come back and work alongside coach Small. I think Coach Small is the best in the business and it's a privilege to be able to learn from him. "To keep this thing going - and it's really going - I think we need to have a lot of attention to detail. We have to stay consistent because what Coach Small is doing is working, and not get too wrapped up in what we have done but look forward to what we still can do. Several years ago, I don't think Illinois would've been talked about as competing for national championships, and that perception has changed. Everything is in place to be a contender year in and year out." A 2010 graduate of Illinois, Barlow spent the last year as a teaching professional at Kokopelli Golf Course in Marion, Illinois, while also playing professionally. He was active on the eGolf and NGA Tours, playing nine events in 2012 and competing in the first stage of PGA Tour Q-School. He also won the 2012 U.S. Open local qualifier in St. Louis. He also advanced out of the U.S. Open local qualifier in 2013 with a third-place finish. "It's great to have Zach back in the Illini program after a few years of playing professionally," Small said. "I know he has been thinking about coaching for a while now, and the time is right for him to start a new chapter in his career. He was a very decorated collegiate player for us and he brings a mentality and work ethic that is second to none. We're excited to get him into the fold and continue our quest of competing for national championships." Barlow lettered at Illinois from 2007-10 and finished his career with the eighth-best stroke average in school history at 74.06. He won the 2008 Illinois State Amateur, the 2008 Olympia Fields Country Club/Fighting Illini Invitational and the 2009 Marshall Invitational. He also advanced to the championship match of the 2009 Western Amateur, falling to John Hahn 3 & 2 but recording the best finish by an Illini golfer at the event. As a junior at Trico High School, Barlow won the 2003 IHSA Class A state title. He was named a PING All-Midwest Region selection in 2009 and 2010, and was an All-Big Ten second-team pick in 2010. Barlow also was a member of the Illini Leadership Academy, both in the emerging leaders program as an underclassman and in the veteran leaders program as an upperclassman.

Kowalczyk Executive Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Sport Administration Alma Mater: Kent State '80 Paul Kowalczyk (kuh-WALL-check) is Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director - Sport Administration as of May 2016. Paul joined the Fighting Illini administrative staff as senior associate athletics director in August 2012. He served as interim Director of Athletics from November 2015 to March 2016.  Kowalczyk served as athletics director at Colorado State from 2006-2011 following his stint as AD at Southern Illinois from 2000-2006. During his time at SIU, the Salukis won 15 conference championships in seven sport programs. During his time at CSU, the Rams won 10 conference championships in four sport programs. He spent time at Northwestern as the business manager and associate athletic director/external affairs from 1991-2000 and was assistant athletic director for business operations at Kansas State from 1988-91. Kowalczyk also gained experience at Portland State as the athletic business manager from 1987 to 1988, at Youngstown State University in the marketing department and at Kent State in the development office. A native of Warren, Ohio, Kowalczyk earned his bachelor's degree in accounting at Kent State in 1980 and his master's degree in sports administration at Kent State in 1986. He was named the Athletics Director of the Year, 1-AA Central Region, by NACDA in 2006 and received the General Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award in 2004. He was the NCAA Leadership Council Representative for the Mountain West Conference from 2008-11 and served as the AD Chair for the Mountain West in 2011. He was a member of the NACDA Executive Committee from 2008-2011. Kowalczyk is married to Peg Lynch Kowalczyk. Updated May 2016

Szymoniak handles all administrative aspects of the Fighting Illini program, oversees the Demirjian Indoor Practice Facility and Lauritsen/Wohlers Outdoor Practice Facility, serves as tournament coordinator for the Olympia Fields Country Club/Fighting Illini Invitational and the Illini Golf Classic hosted by Illini Tour Professionals. While working with the Illini womens team, Szymoniak helped the Orange and Blue to an NCAA regional berth for the second year in a row and fourth time in school history. The Illini also placed fifth at the Big Ten Championships, which was the programs best finish since 2002 and top showing at the conference tournament under head coach Renee Slone. Illinois also twice set the team school record for a 54-hole tournament total and turned in the top two individual tournament and team single round performances in school history. Szymoniak spent the 2010-11 season as a full-time assistant coach for the Georgia State womens program after serving as graduate assistant coach during the 2009-10 season. While a graduate assistant coach, Szymoniak obtained her masters degree in sports administration. At Georgia State, Szymoniak guided the Panthers to four team victories, including the 2010 Colonial Athletic Association Championship. The Panthers also advanced to the NCAA East Regional in 2010 and qualified an individual for the 2011 NCAA East Regional. Szymoniak graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelors degree in speech communication and was a four-year letter winner for the Bulldogs from 2002-06. While at Georgia, Szymoniak took medalist honors at the 2004 Mason Rudolph Championship and recorded top-10 finishes at the 2004 Lady Puerto Rico Classic and the 2006 Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. As a junior, Szymoniak was named the National and SEC Golfer of the Week for her victory at the Mason Rudolph Championship. Along with Szymoniaks athletic accomplishments, she was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll each of her four years; to the SEC Good Works Team in 2004, 2005, and 2006; and to the Deans List in 2003 and 2004. Following graduation, Szymoniak played professionally on the Duramed FUTURES Tour, the second-highest level of womens professional golf, for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. As a junior golfer, Szymoniak was a three-time America Junior Golf Association (AJGA) All-American. She was a 2001 and 2002 AJGA Canon Cup East team member and also winner of five national titles. Szymoniak has vast experience as a teaching professional, having worked as a golf instructor at summer camps at Westhampton Country Club in Westhampton, N.Y., UGA Mens and Womens Golf Camps in Athens, Ga., and at Canongate at Summer Grove Golf Club in Newnan, Ga., throughout her junior and collegiate years.