For the fourth time in seven years, Jim Ott, head coach of Illinois Wesleyan University’s men’s golf team, has been named a finalist for the Golf Coaches Association of America’s Division III Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award. This award is presented by Golf Pride Grips. The GCAA announced its list of five finalists on Monday, May 19, ahead of the NCAA Division III National Championship.
Ott has previously won this prestigious award in 2019, 2020, and 2021. He is joined as a finalist by Steve Conley from Methodist University, Pete Gyscek from Washington & Lee University, Dan Wesley from Rochester University, and Justin Wyeth from Aurora University. This marks the fifth time Ott has been recognized as a finalist for this honor.
Under Ott’s leadership this season, Illinois Wesleyan has secured three wins and claimed their 13th consecutive College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championship with a commanding 35-shot margin. The team also boasts four top-four finishes during Ott’s 25th year as head coach.
Illinois Wesleyan is currently ranked fifth according to Scoreboard powered by Clippd. The team features PING All-Region V golfers Juney Bai, Quinn Clifford, Aidan Healy; CCIW Individual Champion Michael Spitzer; and CCIW Student-Athlete of the Year Griffin Pohl. Twelve-time CCIW Coach of the Year Jim Ott aims to guide his team to their third national championship since 2019 at the upcoming NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championship at Midvale Country Club in Penfield, New York from May 20-23.
