Men’s golf coach Mike Small is an Illinois enthusiast to the core. A University graduate in 1988, there is almost no doubt Small thinks, bleeds and sweats orange and blue.

Small, who became a professional golfer in 1990, still plays in professional tournaments several times a year, but his focus at this point in his life is on the Illinois men’s golf team.

“I’m a coach that plays, not a player that coaches,” Small said.

Small’s golf experience began long ago. When he was only five-years-old, he picked up a club for the first time. He began golfing at age 10.

Playing with his friends, who began to take interest in golf around the same time, he continued to hone in on his game throughout high school.

While playing for Danville High School, Small experienced one of his first major accomplishments as his high school team won the state finals.

Following his high school years, Small came to the University of Illinois to play on the golf team. Illinois enjoyed great success during the years Small played for the team as he, along with Steve Stricker, led Illinois to a Big Ten title in 1988.

After graduating college, Small obtained sponsorship from local businessmen and began his preparation for turning pro.

“After I finally turned pro, it was a struggle,” Small said. “I was never the best when it came to golf; I just got progressively better as I played more. I was never a top junior player, and I got near the top in high school, but when I turned pro, I got beat up pretty badly.”

There was no quit in the Illinois coach, though. He stuck with it, practicing all the time and playing in any tournament he could.

Finally, in 1995 Small got his fist big win. He won a tournament on the Hooters Tour. He completed tour school that same year, becoming a member of the Nationwide Tour where he won two tournaments in 1997.

“Winning was a huge confidence boost,” Small said. “I worked so hard at it. Every morning, I would practice at home between breakfast and lunch, and then I’d play in the afternoons.”

After his fantastic 1997 season, Small officially received exemption for PGA tour events, as he finished in the top-15 on the Nationwide Tour money list.

Small played a year on the PGA before losing his tour card, forcing him to go back to the nationwide tour. He once again enjoyed some success there, but it just wasn’t fulfilling for him.

“After you play on the PGA Tour, nothing else is like it,” Small said. “You want to get back to that level.”

Meanwhile, Illinois was in the market for a new men’s golf coach. They had expressed interest in having Small take the position, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to do it.

After thinking about it for some time, it began to seem like a better and better idea to Small. In 2000, he accepted the job.

“I have lots of pride in this school – I played here in college,” Small said. “I really like the atmosphere and excitement here. I want to bring kids here and introduce them to Illinois; I want to see them develop the same pride in this school that I have.”

Since coming to Illinois, Small has achieved many prestigious honors. He was named 2002 Big Ten Coach of the Year and 2003 Eaton Golf Pride Midwest Region Coach of the Year.

Although he is coaching a top-tier collegiate golf team, Small still hasn’t given up on professional golf; he still plays in events on a semi-regular basis.

He plays in the Western Open just outside of Chicago every year, making the cut each of the last three seasons, including last summer when he was in contention for the title.

This year, he enjoyed one of his most successful professional seasons, winning the Illinois PGA, the Illinois Open and the 2005 National Club Pro Championship, which exempted him from seven PGA events next season. He also made the cut for a major touranment on the tour when he competed in the weekend rounds at the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol.

His success as a coach and as a professional makes Small unique in the current NCAA golf scene.

“It helps a lot for recruitment,” Small said. “When I call guys, they already know who I am. Playing in the tour events also helps me to be a better coach; I get to talk to the top professionals and stay up to date with the latest equipment and techniques.”

Small said there were a few other coaches who competed at higher levels of professional golf, but that none of them played on the level he does.

Even though Small said he no longer dreams of winning a PGA tour event, he does have goals for his Illinois golf team.

“I had my chance to win the Western Open,” Small said. “Now I am more focused on the team. I want to bring the national title to Illinois.”