CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois men’s golf head coach Mike Small announced Wednesday that assistant coach Justin Bardgett has accepted a new role, as Director of Collegiate Relations with PGA TOUR University, and will leave the Illinois program at the conclusion of Fighting Illini’s 2023 postseason run.
“Illinois men’s golf is very happy and excited for Justin as he embarks on a new and exciting career path,” head coach Mike Small said. “Justin has done an excellent job as our men’s assistant coach, and his coaching talents will surely be missed. Head coaches always feel a sense of pride when their players and/or staff find growth and satisfaction in their professional lives, and I know that Justin will continue to do great things in his new career path with PGA TOUR University.”
Bardgett has been a vital part of Small’s program for each of the past four years since joining the Illini prior to the start of the 2019-20 season. During his tenure, the St. Louis native, has helped Illinois extend its streak of consecutive Big Ten Championships to a conference record seven straight with titles in 2020-21 and 2021-22 after the abrupt cancellation of the 2019-20 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illini competed in the NCAA Regionals in both 2021 and 2022, qualifying for the 2021 NCAA Championship where they advanced to match play and notched a top-5 national finish as a team for the seventh time since 2011.
Bardgett has helped the Illini capture 13 team tournament titles and four individual wins, while assisting on the coaching front as three golfers earned four All-America selections. During his time with the Orange and Blue, the Illini have also racked up two Big Ten Golfer of the Year honors, a Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolade, and back-to-back Les Bolstad Award winners for the conference’s top stroke average. The Illini have also captured 10 All-Big Ten laurels by six golfers. Academically, Bardgett helped the Illini tally 19 Academic All-Big Ten accolades from 10 individuals, seven Big Ten Distinguished Scholar nods by four golfers, and 14 GCAA All-America Scholar selections by seven student-athletes.
“I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work at such a great university with a tremendous athletic department, and for one of the all-time greats in college coaching under Mike Small,” Bardgett…
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