University of Illinois men's golf head coach Mike Small enters his 24th season in 2023-24.
Small has brought national recognition to the Illinois golf program in his 23 years at the helm of the program. The 2015 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year has guided the Illini to 13 of the last 14 Big Ten Championship titles, including the program's current streak of eight consecutive that has established a new Big Ten Conference record for sustained excellence.
Since 2010 Small has mentored two NCAA individual champions - Scott Langley (2010) and Thomas Pieters (2012) - and also coached 12 Big Ten Player of the Year honorees, beginning with James Lepp (2003) - a second-team All-American for the Illini - Langley - a three-time All-American - Luke Guthrie (2010) - a two-time individual Big Ten champion who held the program's career stroke average record at the end of his career - Pieters (2013) - a two-time All-American who helped the Illini to an NCAA runner-up finish in 2013 - Brian Campbell (2014), who broke Guthrie's season stroke average and earned All-America honors in 2014 - Thomas Detry (2015) a three-time All-American who is among Illinois' career stroke average leaders - Charlie Danielson (2016) - Illinois' first and only four-time All-American who again reset the all-time low season stroke average - Dylan Meyer (2017) - a three-time All-American and Ben Hogan Award finalist - Nick Hardy (2018) - a two-time Individual Big Ten Champion and two-time All-American - and Adrien Dumont de Chassart (2021, 2022 and 2023), who became just third golfer in Big Ten history to earn the award three times, while also becoming the Illini's career stroke average leader.
Under Small's direction, the Illini program has seen consistent success as his teams have not only continued to achieve greatness at the conference level, but on the national level as well. Small has led Illinois to top-five NCAA finishes in eight of the last 12 postseasons, including a runner-up finish in 2013. Illinois has advanced past NCAA Regionals to the NCAA Championship 16 times under Small's guidance, including a run of 13 straight from 2008 to 2021, a streak that ranked second nationally during that stretch. The Orange and Blue have won five NCAA Regional titles, including four consecutive NCAA Regional Championships from 2013-2016, becoming one of just two schools in NCAA history to do so. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Small's Illini have been a consistent force among the top 25 in the Golfweek/Bushnell Coaches' Poll, and own the longest streak ranked in the top spot. Small was again recognized for his coaching success in 2016 as he was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame.
Small has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year a conference-record 13 times in his career (2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2002) and has also been named Midwest Regional Coach of the Year on 12 occasions (2023, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2003). Under his direction, 16 Illini have won 33 All-America honors and 62 All-Big Ten accolades garnered by 27 student-athletes.
Small's players continue to see success after college as well. Illinois boasts several alumni in the professional ranks highlighted by Steve Stricker, D.A. Points, Thomas Pieters, Thomas Detry, Brian Campbell, Luke Guthrie, Dylan Meyer, Nick Hardy, Michael Feagles, and Adrien Dumont de Chassart. Illinois graduates Chris DeForest (2011), Langley (2010, 2012 and 2013), Campbell (2015), Charlie Danielson (2016 and 2019), Pieters (2020, 2022, 2023), and Detry (2020, 2021) also have qualified for the U.S. Open, as did then-current Illini Hardy (2015 and 2016), Meyer (2018 and again 2021), and Adrien Dumont de Chassart (2022). Hardy has now qualified for the U.S. Open five times, also playing in the field as an Illinois alum in 2019, 2022 and 2023. Both Langley and Campbell earned low amateur finishes at the prestigious tournament. Illinois' most recent NCAA champion, Pieters, is currently playing in the LIV Golf League, while fellow Belgian, Detry, competed primarily on the PGA Tour, alongside Hardy, in 2022-23. Pieters posted six tournament wins on the DP World Tour and represented Europe in the Ryder Cup. He also represented his home country of Belgium in the 2016 Rio Olympics, and again at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics along with Detry. In addition, Pieters tied for fourth at the 2017 Masters Tournament. In 2022 and 2023, he competed in all four majors after initially accomplishing the feat in 2017.
Several Illini have represented the program on a national level, competing in the Arnold Palmer Cup, as Langley won the clinching match at the Palmer Cup in 2010 and Pieters helped Europe clinch the 2012 Palmer Cup by halving both of his singles matches in the event. Detry went 3-1 in helping Europe to a 2014 Palmer Cup win in 2014, while Danielson received the event's Michael Carter sportsmanship award in 2016. Hardy carried on the tradition, helping the United States win the cup in 2017. Most recently Adrien Dumont de Chassart competed for Team International at the 2021 and 2022 Palmer Cups, and Tommy Kuhl helped Team USA to victory in 2023. Langley, Pieters and Detry also represented the United States on the national team for the World Amateur Team Championships in Argentina, and Dylan Meyer wore the national colors at the Australian Master of the Amateurs.
In addition to success on the course, Small's players have experienced great academic success, capturing several Big Ten Medal of Honor awards with Scott Langley in 2011, Luke Guthrie in 2012, Charlie Danielson in 2016, and Adrien Dumont de Chassart in 2023. Additionally, his players have earned 79 Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Small has the distinction of playing on a Big Ten championship team and coaching 13 more. 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.
Small has continued his professional career while coaching, most recently playing on the PGA TOUR Champions. Since 2000, he is a three-time PGA of America National Champion, a three-time PGA Professional National Player of the Year, a 13-time IPGA Champion, four-time Illinois Open Champion and he has participated in 13 major championships. Small has made the cut in 15 of 34 PGA TOUR events since he began coaching at Illinois, and has appeared in several PGA TOUR Champions events, earning three top 10 finishes and playing in three U.S. Senior Opens. He was also named the 2017 OMEGA Senior PGA Professional Player of the Year.
Year-by-Year Highlights
- 2022-23: Illinois closed as the No. 1 rated team in the Golfstat national rankings, leading the country with a head-to-head record of 172-9-3, and an NCAA-leading seven tournament victories. The Illini produced two first-team All-Americans in the same season for the first time in program history and had all five members of the lineup earn All-Big Ten honors. The team captured its conference-record eighth straight Big Ten title, the 13th of 14 overall since 2009, and the team's 20th all-time Big Ten crown. Head coach Mike Small won his record 13th Big Ten Coach of the Year honor, while Adrien Dumont de Chassart won his third consecutive Big Ten Player of the Year award, a Big Ten record 14th for the Illini program. Dumont de Chassart's three B1G Player of the Year honors also tied the conference record, and he became the first Illini male athlete to win his sports athlete of the year honor three times.
- 2021-22: Illinois finished the year ranked 18th nationally by Golfstat, and competed in the NCAA Regional for the 14th consecutive season. The Illini claimed their conference-record seventh straight Big Ten title, the 12th of 13 overall dating back to 2009, and the team's 19th all-time Big Ten crown. As a team, the Illini won four tournaments on the season: the Hoosier Collegiate, the Boilermaker Invitational, the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate, and the Big Ten Championship. Piercen Hunt won his first collegiate event at the Isleworth Collegiate Invitational, while Adrien Dumont de Chassart captured his third collegiate win at the Boilermaker Invitational. Dumont de Chassart turned in one of the most celebrated seasons in program history, claiming his second consecutive Big Ten Player of the Year honor, joining Steve Stricker as the only Illini to win the award twice. Dumont de Chassart was on the watch lists for both the Fred Haskins Award and the Ben Hogan Award and he set a program record for stroke average (70.08) while earning the Big Ten's Les Bolstad Award. Following the season, he was named as a second-team All-American by both the GCAA and Golfweek. Dumont de Chassart was joined by Tommy Kuhl and Hunt on the GCAA PING All-Midwest Region team. The trio also earned All-Big Ten honors, with Dumont de Chassart and Kuhl garnering first-team accolades, and Hunt taking home second-team. In addition to Dumont de Chassart's Big Ten Player of the Year laurel, Kuhl earned the program's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, and Small extended his conference record with his 12th Big Ten Coach of the Year award.
- 2020-21: Small guided the Illini a sixth consecutive Big Ten Championship, a second-place showing at the NCAA Stillwater Regional, and a 13th consecutive berth in the NCAA Championship where the Orange and Blue advanced to the match play quarterfinals to secure a top-five national finish. The Illini's 2021 Big Ten Championship marked the 18th in program history and the 11th - in the last 12 postseasons - under Small. Illinois' selection for the NCAA Stillwater Regional was the 16th under Small. The Illini's match play berth marked the team's seventh since the current format was adopted in 2009, a total that ranks second nationally, one behind Oklahoma State. The Illini finished no lower than a share of fifth in any of the team's 10 events on the season and, in addition to the Big Ten Championship, captured team victories at the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate, the LSU Invitational, the Louisiana Classics, and the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate. Adrien Dumont e Chassart was named Big Ten Co-Player of the Year, and joined fifth-year senior Michael Feagles as a second-team All-American, while sophomore Jerry Ji earned an All-America honorable mention nod.
- 2019-20: The season was halted, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 12, 2020, forcing the immediate cancellation of all remaining regular-season events, as well as the Big Ten and NCAA Championships. The team tied for fifth at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational for their best finish of the fall, and was hitting its stride early in the spring schedule, finishing second at the Sports Authority Intercollegiate and fourth at the John. A. Burns Intercollegiate before the abrupt end of the season.
- 2018-19: The Illini made their 12th consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships, after earning the title at the 2019 NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional to mark the fifth NCAA Regional title in school history. Illinois' 12 NCAA Championship appearances mark the longest active streak in the nation, second only to Texas (13). The squad earned its fifth consecutive Big Ten Championship title, and the 10th in the last 11 seasons. The Orange and Blue have won five consecutive league titles twice in program history, and is one of just three teams in the conference to do so. Winning his second individual title of his freshman season, Adrien Dumont de Chassart became Illinois' 21st Big Ten Championship medalist, while Michael Feagles took individual medalist honors at the NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional. Feagles marks Illinois' fifth NCAA Regional medalist. UI finished among the top five in nine tournaments during the season, taking home five event titles, also including the Macdonald Cup and the Fighting Irish Classic.
- 2017-18: The Orange and Blue brought home their fourth-straight Big Ten Championship title, led by senior Nick Hardy who became Illinois' eighth consecutive Big Ten Championship medalist by winning the individual title for the second time in his career. The Big Ten Player of the Year, Hardy garnered First-Team All-America honors during the season, and Small earned his 10th Big Ten Coach of the Year laurel. Four Illini earned All-Big Ten honors during the campaign, and four were named to the PING All-Midwest Region team as well. After winning two regular season tournaments before Big Ten Championship play, the Fighting Illini continued postseason play with a runner-up finish at the NCAA Columbus Regional. The squad made its 11th consecutive NCAA Championships appearance during the 2017-18, finishing the season among the top 15 teams (11th).
- 2016-17: Illinois earned its third consecutive NCAA Semifinalist finish and its third consecutive Big Ten Championship title. Junior Dylan Meyer earned medalist honors at the conference championship, and the Illini once again swept the Big Ten yearly honors. Meyer was named Player of the Year, while Michael Feagles garnered Freshman of the Year honors. Head Coach Mike Small was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the ninth time and was also inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame. Meyer was also named a finalist for the prestigious Ben Hogan Award and a First-Team All-American. Nick Hardy was also awarded All-America honors.
- 2015-16: The campaign featured Illinois' ninth consecutive NCAA Championship appearance and the program's 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 league's Les Bolstad Award, while Detry took medalist honors at the conference championship. Thanks to Small's 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.
- 2014-15: The Illini won a school-record eight tournament titles during the 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.
- 2013-14: 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 2010-11: The Illini completed their best NCAA finish since 1941, reaching the NCAA match play quarterfinals 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 2007-08: 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.
- 2006-07: Senior Kyle Hosick placed 10th at the Big Ten Championships and was named a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar.
- 2005-06: Small directed a young Illinois team to a solid year. 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.
- 2004-05: Small led his squad to four top-three finishes, including runner-up honors at the Bruce Fossum/TaylorMade Invitational, a tournament that featured nine Big Ten teams.
- 2003-04: 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.
- 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 UI's 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.
- 2001-02: Small 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 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 Korn Ferry 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 is the youngest man to ever be enshrined in the hall.
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, Small 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
- 2023: Qualified for his third U.S. Senior Open, finishing T47 at SentryWorld. Tied for 22nd at the American Family Insurance Championship. Won his sixth Illinois Senior PGA Professional Championship, and his 14th Illinois PGA Professional Championship.
- 2022: Tied for 42md at the American Family Insurance Championship. Won the Illinois Senior Open.
- 2021: Tied for 37th at the American Family Insurance Championship. Won the Illinois Senior PGA Championship.
- 2020: Named 2020 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year, the second of his career (2008) after winning the Illinois PGA Championship for the 13th time. He also won the Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Elgin Country Club while also claiming his fourth consecutive Illinois Senior PGA Professional Championship at the Merit Club.
- 2019: Tied for 35th at the American Family Insurance Championship. Won the Illinois Senior PGA Professional Championship.
- 2018: Competed in seven PGA TOUR Champions events, earning four top-25 finishes and three among the top 10. He earned a ninth-place finish at the Principal Charity Classic and followed that up with consecutive 10th-place finishes at the American Family Insurance Championship and the Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship. He qualified for the PGA TOUR Champions Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs.
- 2017: Played in three events on the PGA TOUR Champions and earned a top-20 finish at the American Family Insurance Championship. He placed among the top three at the PGA Professional Championship and qualified for the PGA Championship. Small also made the cut at the U.S. Senior Open.
- 2016: 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.
- 2014: Continued his success at the Illinois PGA Championship, earning his 11th title.
- 2013: 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 10th Illinois PGA championship and competed as part of the United States team at the PGA Cup in September.
- 2012: Qualified for his eighth PGA Championship, the 11th major of his career.
- 2011: Earned low club professional honors for the second time at the PGA Championship, which he played for the seventh time in his career.
- 2010: 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.
- 2009: 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.
- 2008: The summer of 2008 saw Small win the Illinois PGA title for the sixth straight year and seventh overall, both event records.
- 2007: 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.
- 2006: 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.
- 2005: 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 thanks to a final-round 67.
- 2004: 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 took 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 in Round 2 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.
- 2003: 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.
- 2002: In the summer of 2002, Small finished second at the Illinois PGA Championship.
- 2001: 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 Stone Creek course record, 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 as 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.