Michigan State University Athletics
Slobodnik Named Midwest District Coach of the Year
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
May 14, 1999
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State women's golf coach Stacy Slobodnik has been named the 1998-99 Midwest District Coach of the Year following her second season as head coach of the Spartans.
Slobodnik, a native of Kentwood, Mich., earned the honor for the 69-team Midwest District after guiding Michigan State to one of its finest seasons ever. The Spartans finished third in the Big Ten - completing the conference's biggest one-year improvement in history after taking ninth last year - and advanced to the NCAA East Regional.
"It's a great honor to receive this award," Slobodnik said. "At the same time, I understand that the only reason I was chosen for this award is the effort of the players, and I hope they share in the award. It is another addition to the list of accomplishments we have from this year."
Among MSU's accomplishments this season:
* Reached NCAA East Regional, MSU's third NCAA appearance and first since 1984.
* MSU finished third at the Big Ten Championship after taking ninth a year ago, the best one-year improvement in Big Ten history.
* Finished 11th of 19 teams at the NCAA East Regional, just three strokes from qualifying for the NCAA Finals.
* MSU finished in the top five in all 11 regular-season tournaments. The Spartans captured three consecutive tournament titles, a first at Michigan State since 1978.
* MSU set a school record with a team score of 292 in the first round of the Big Ten/Big 12 Shootout. The Spartans also shot a 293 in the Mary Fossum Invitational
* In head-to-head record, MSU was 119-34 this year (.778), a dramatic improvement from last year's 75-71 record (.514).
* MSU's team stroke average improved over six strokes since last season (318.4 in 1997-98, 312.1 in 1998-99).
* Four different players shot rounds of 71 or better (Kasey Gant, Kellie Dennis, Meggan Schumaker and Emily Bastel), including Gant's 68, the best round in the Big Ten this year and the best round in MSU history.
* Three players (Kasey Gant, Emily Bastel, Stacy Snider) had stroke averages in the 70s.
By virtue of earning the Midwest District Coach of the Year award, Slobodnik is a finalist for National Coach of the Year honors. An excellent amatuer player as well, Slobodnik was named the Golf Association of Michigan Player of the Year after a successful summer of 1998 on the course.
