May 29, 2012
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. - For the second consecutive year, San Diego State's Ryan Donovan has been tabbed one of six finalists for the Dave Williams Award, which is handed out to the national coach of the year in Division I men's golf, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) announced Tuesday afternoon. The annual honor presented by Eaton Golf Pride is named after the late head coach at the University of Houston, who won 16 NCAA championships.
In his ninth year at the helm of his alma mater, Donovan's team is in the midst of yet another record-breaking season. The Aztecs are currently ranked 10th nationally by golfstat.com, and have ended up in the top seven in all 13 outings, including nine in the top three. SDSU won four consecutive tournaments this spring and boasts a combined head-to-head record of 149-23-2.
The Yorba Linda, Calif., native led the program to its second consecutive Mountain West Conference title, becoming the first league school to repeat since 2005-06. Donovan also guided the Red & Black to a runner-up performance at the NCAA Stanford Regional and an Aztec has claimed medalist honors four times this campaign. For his efforts, he was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season and is the only Aztec to ever accomplish the feat in league history.
Donovan was a four-year member of the San Diego State men's golf squad from 1997-2001, before earning his degree in public administration and playing professionally. He returned to The Mesa as an assistant coach in 2003, and later was promoted to head coach, where he has guided SDSU to 99 top-10 tournament finishes, 73 top-five performances, 24 team titles and five trips to the NCAA national championships, including this season.
The other finalists for this year's Dave Williams Award include: Nick Clinard (Auburn), Steve Desimone (California), Casey Martin (Oregon), Jay Seawell (Alabama) and Jeff Thomas (Liberty). In addition, the coach of the NCAA national team champion will also be added if he is not already listed.
This is the second year in a row that Donovan has been tabbed a candidate for the Dave Williams Award, as he was one of 12 finalists in 2011.
San Diego State is currently completing the first round of the 2012 NCAA championships in Pacific Palisades, Calif., at the famed Riviera Country Club.
GCAA Dave Williams Award Finalists (NCAA Division I national coach of the year)
Ryan Donovan, San Diego StateNick Clinard, AuburnSteve Desimone, CaliforniaCasey Martin, OregonJay Seawell, AlabamaJeff Thomas, Liberty