Arizona State has brought in a host of accomplishments in the last two days. First Sun Devil Head Coach Matt Thurmond was named a finalist for the Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award presented by Golf Pride Grips. Additionally, five Sun Devils were named to the PING All-Region Team, both according to announcements by Collegiate Golf Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Thurmond is joined on the finalist list by Bruce Heppler of Georgia Tech, Scott Limbaugh of Vanderbilt, Conrad Ray of Stanford and Mike Small of Illinois. All five coaches are competing at the NCAA Championships at Grayhawk.
“Coach Thurmond has built a culture of consistency,” said associate head coach Thomas Sutton. “You look at the guys that are on this list and it’s really hard to be on it consistently. Look at what we lost after last season, and to come back and be right here at the NCAA Championships is a testament to what has been built at Arizona State.”
Thurmond has been rock solid since he joined the Sun Devils prior to the 2016 athletic season. ASU has now reached the NCAA Championship in all five of his chances. Since becoming a head coach in 2002, his squads have made the NCAA Championship in 17 of his 20 seasons, missing only in 2016, 2011 and 2007.
Additionally, he has coached 22 All-Pac-12 honorees including every Pac-12 Freshman of the Year since 2018, including 2023 recipient Michael Mjaaseth. No school in the conference has ever had consecutive winners of the Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year honor before the Sun Devils’ current run of four straight from 2019-23. Additionally, All five Sun Devil starters were named to the All-Conference Team this season.
Thurmond has also been elite with his student-athletes in the classroom. Ryggs Johnston was the 2023 Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year. A senior, Johnston had a perfect 4.00 grade-point average in business management. He graduated in May with his management degree and a certificate in sports business. Johnston is a two-time GCAA All-America Scholar (2021-22) and twice been a member of the Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll (2021, 2022).
The winner of the 2023 David Williamds Coach of the Year Award Presented by Golf Pride Grips will be announced at an undetermined date during June.
Thurmond also piloted the quintent of Josele Ballester, Ryggs Johnston, Michael Mjaaseth, Luke Potter and
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