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JR

Finalists Named for 2014 Jan Strickland Award presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf

NORMAN, Okla. – Chris Hill of Houston, Northwestern’s David Inglis and Blake Smart of Oklahoma have been named finalists for the 2014 Jan Strickland Award presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf as selected by the GCAA. The Strickland Award is presented to the NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA or NJCAA assistant coach that, among other things, has excelled in working with their student-athletes both on the course and in the classroom.

Hill is in his fourth season with the Houston golf program. He enters his second season as the associate head coach of the men’s team. In that role, he assists in all aspects of the team, including practice scheduling, recruiting, scheduling and student-athlete development. In 2013, Houston won its first conference championship since 2002 and has risen from 178th in the rankings into the top 10 during his tenure. Additionally, Hill organizes Houston’s annual Dave Williams Pro-Am and was integral in the development of the Dave Williams Golf Academy at Golf Club of Houston, the team’s new facility.

Inglis joined Northwestern as its assistant men’s golf coach prior to the 2010-11 season. He handles the day-to-day operations and recruiting for the Wildcat men’s golf program. Inglis also serves as the tournament director of the Windon Memorial Classic and has been an instructor at the Wildcat Golf Academy. Northwestern has won seven tournaments during his tenure and have been honored as a GCAA Academic Team Award recipient three times. An assistant coach for the 2011 and 2012 European Palmer Cup Teams, he continues to serve on the European Palmer Cup selection committee.

Hired on Aug. 10, 2009, Smart has been crucial to Oklahoma’s return to the national spotlight. The 2013-14 season marks Smart’s fifth with the program. In his time at OU, the Sooners have set the three best single-season averages in school history. In 2012-13, OU recorded a 290.05 scoring average, the program’s best. That performance followed marks of 290.27 in 2010-11 and 290.46 in 2011-12. OU has made appearances in each of the last three NCAA Championships. He also serves as the assistant coach representative for the GCAA National Advisory Board.

The Strickland Award recipient will have the opportunity to further his professional development by receiving an invitation to the TaylorMade-adidas Golf Kingdom in Carlsbad, Calif.

TaylorMade-adidas Golf has sponsored the Strickland Award since its inception in 2003.