OU’s Allcorn named nation’s top assistant coach

NORMAN – Oklahoma men’s golf assistant coach Bill Allcorn has been named the winner of the 2021 Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award winner presented by TaylorMade Golf Company as selected by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

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. Allcorn has been named a finalist for the award in each of the last two seasons, and 2021 marks the first time he has won the prestigious award.

“It’s such an honor to be named this year’s recipient of the Jan Strickland Award,” Allcorn said. “College golf is filled with outstanding assistants at every level and all over the country, and to receive this award means so much to me. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by the best head coach in college golf, student-athletes that show up everyday with a desire to be great and an incredible support staff at Oklahoma. That group makes my job easy and fun. Thank you to the Jan Strickland Award committee and the Golf Coaches Association for this award.”

Since Allcorn’s arrival four seasons ago, the Sooners are the nation’s only team to advance to match play at the NCAA Championship in each season. The program has sent seven student-athletes to a combined 14 All-America honors since 2014, the most in the nation during that stretch. The Sooners’ five All-Americans in 2021 were the most ever at OU.

“Bill is an integral part of our program and continues to shine in our profession,” head coach Ryan Hybl said. “He is a great worker and gives all that he can to this golf team each and every day. He deserves to win the Jan Strickland Award, and we are all proud that he is being recognized for his accomplishments.”

Oklahoma’s runner-up finish at the 2021 NCAA Championship marked the program’s 11th top-five finish at the pinnacle of collegiate golf. Allcorn has assisted Hybl in guiding the Sooners to the best stretch in program history, notching 15 team wins and 37 top-three finishes over the last four seasons.

The Sooners are slated to return to the course this fall, led by All-Americans Logan McAllister and Patrick Welch, along with 2020 Big Ten Player of the Year Chris Gotterup.