ILLINOIS HEAD COACH MIKE SMALL (FRONT RIGHT) WAS NAMED BIG TEN COACH OF THE YEAR
(PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE KOON, U OF I SI-DEPARTMENT)

Mike Small has done it again, along with his team of Fighting Illini golfers that
just claimed their third straight Big Ten Title, Small claimed his third straight
Big Ten Coach of the Year honors.

The Fighting  Illini also saw several members of it's golf  team receive Big Ten
postseason recognition.

Senior Scott Langley and Junior Luke Guthrie were named to the All-Big Ten
first team, with Senior Chris Deforest named to the second team. Senior
Clayton Parkhill was the school's sportsmanship honoree.

Small has now won the award in 2002, 2009, 2010, 2011.  Small has guided
Illinois to a current #12 ranking in the NCAA Golfweek computer rankings.

Illinois over the last four years, has claimed 21 team titles and saw it's team
members come away with 15 individual medalist honors. Later this month
Illinois will attempt to become just the 11th the team to reach the NCAA 
Championship finals four consecutive years.

Guthrie was the first Illini golfer to be crowned Big Ten Champion since
1999. While Deforest with five tournament wins, now ranks second in
school history trailing only Steve Stricker. 

The Mens Big Ten Championship will be shown on the Big Ten Network,
coming up later this month.