Courtesy of Golf Coaches Association of America
NORMAN, Okla. – Division III finalists for the Dave Williams Award presented by Golf Pride Grips have been announced by the GCAA. The Williams Award honors the national coach of the year in Division III men's golf.
The five finalists are Wittenberg's Michael Leotta, Jim Ott of Illinois Wesleyan, Huntingdon's Dave Schreyer, Greg Sigler of Southwestern (TX), and Emory's John Sjoberg. If a team wins the NCAA Championship and its coach was not previously named a finalist for the Dave Williams Award that coach will be added for coach of the year consideration.
Leotta was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after leading Wittenberg to its 10th straight league championship. The NCAC Championship was one of six wins for the Tigers on the season. Wittenberg only placed outside the top five once in 10 events.
Ott led Illinois Wesleyan to seven wins in 10 tournaments during the 2018-19 campaign. One of the seven wins was at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, where five Titans finished in the top six of the individual standings. Illinois Wesleyan's other three finishes were third twice and fifth.
The 2017 Williams Award recipient, Schreyer's Huntingdon squad has five wins, three second-place finishes, and have finished in the top six in all 10 events. Previously named the USA South Conference Coach of the Year, Scheyer has led the Hawks to three straight wins, including by 26 shots at the conference tournament.
Southwestern has claimed three tournament victories this season under Sigler. Additionally, the Pirates have finished runner-up three times. In nine events Southwestern has only placed outside the top five once.
Sjoberg has led Emory to four victories this season. The Eagles have also posted three runner-up finishes have placed no worse than tied for fourth. Emory closed out the regular season ranked first in the Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll, a position it has held for eight straight polls.