IT’S BMW CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK AT Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel Indiana, come out and support the Evans Scholars, see the Top 70 players on the PGA Tour. Above (L) WGA VP Vince Pellegrino, (R) behind the 18th, Pete and Alice Dye Statue. ______________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory to the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick, Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.
It’s Official, Mike Small is not going anywhere except to his office at the University of Illinois, of course he will be at the great golf practice facilities the school has, and on the road or at the course with his team.
The University of Illinois made a commitment to Small and the Men’s Golf Program, when they gave Small today a new 6-Year deal worth 2 million dollars, the buyout if ever nescessary and it won’t be is set at $600,000.
Mike Small with the Illinois PGA section trophy at Olympia Fields.
“I’ve had contracts before,” Small told Golfers on Golf. “But this is a bold statement from the University of Illinois and I’m excited.”
The contract does not head off a move by Small to play more often on the Champions Tour. While he did recently make the cut at the U.S. Sr. Open he doesn’t plan on playing the tour on a regular basis.
“I’m a coach first and player second,” said Small. “It’s been that way for 15 years and it will continue to be that way. I like to play when the time and my schedule allows me to compete. It’s a good way for me clear my head as well when I need to.”
Small said the University didn’t just commit to him but the Men’s Golf program as well, because of it’s championships and what the program has accomplished in recent years.
Small says he is planning on being at Illinois the rest of his career until he retires. Small shared with the Illinois Golfer that he remembers his team practicing in the basement of the Huff Gym, and on how when Ron Guenther hired him, it was about building a program, and not just a team.
It’s obvious Small has built more than just a team.
University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman called Small,”simply the finest golf collegiate golf coach in the country.” Whitman added that Small’s record speaks for itself and Small has “defied the odds” by building Illinois into one of the top collegiate golf powers in the country.
Small is in hist 17th season as head golf coach, during his tenure Illinois has won 7 Big Ten titles, and Small has been Big Ten Coach of the Year 8 times. In 2015 he was an Dave Williams award winner for national coach of the year. Small has taken Illinois to the national championships 12 times advancing to the nationals 11 times. Illinois has won 4 straight NCAA Regionals and advanced to the match play a record five straight times.
10 Illinois players have earned 21 All-American awards under Small, and several players have earned academic awards as well. For more information see Fightingillini.com.