Chun Winner of Jan Strickland Award presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf
Monday, May 27, 2008
Chun Winner of Jan Strickland Award presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf
California coach honored as assistant coach of the year
NORMAN, Okla. ? Walter Chun of California has been named the recipient of the 2008 Jan Strickland Award presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf announced the Golf Coaches Association of America. The Strickland Award is given to the NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA assistant coach that, among other things, has excelled in working with their student-athletes both on the course and in the classroom.
A former California golf standout, Chun is in his fourth year as assistant coach with the Golden Bears. Prior to his current position, he was the Bears? administrative assistant for the 2003-04 campaign, helping the Bears to the 2004 NCAA title. During Chun?s four years as an assistant coach, Cal has advanced to a pair of NCAA West Regionals while also posting a third-place finish at this year?s Pac-10 Championships ? the Golden Bears? best finish since 2000 in the event. Cal golfers have also collected multiple academic honors on that time, including former golfer Michael Wilson twice being named an All-America Scholar. Chun was a two-time team captain and competed in three NCAA Western Regionals (2000-02) and the 2000 NCAA Championship as a member of the Cal Golf team from 1997-2002. He has also qualified for two U.S. Amateur Championships, the first in 1999 at Pebble Beach and the second in 2002 at Oakland Hills Country Club. Chun received his bachelor?s degree from the Walter A. Haas School of Business in 2001, and earned his Master?s from Cal?s Graduate School of Education in 2003. In addition to his success on the course, Chun was a three-time Pac-10 All-Academic selection (2000-2002) and a two-time All-America Scholar (2001, 2002) for the Bears.
?I feel so honored to win the Jan Strickland Award,? said Chun. ?All of the other finalists have worked extremely hard and are equally deserving. My hat goes off to them and the achievements they?ve made with their teams this season. I would like to thank the Cal Athletic Department and Coach Desimone for the confidence they have in me everyday. I?ve been with Coach for 10 years, and I couldn?t have picked a better coach/mentor/friend to be around. I want to thank the team for the tremendous work they put in everyday in the classroom and on the course. Their efforts make my job that much easier, and they all deserve a piece of this award. I want to give my sincere thanks to the Cal Golf Committee for their amazing efforts dating back to the early 1980?s. Cal Golf has come a very long way, and I am honored to work with such a fine committee of men. Finally, of course, I have to thank my parents and brother for everything they have done for me!?
The Strickland Award recipient will have the opportunity to further their professional development by being a guest of TaylorMade-adidas golf at the PGA Teaching and Coaching Summit as well as an invitation to the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Kingdom in Carlsbad, Calif. TaylorMade-adidas has sponsored the Strickland Award since its inception in 2003.