University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Goldys
University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics holds its annual Golden Goldys every year. Now in it's 16th season, the 2021-22 season returns to an in-person event after a two-year virtual hiatus due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
During this event, Gopher Athletics will recognize student-athletes and their athletic and academic accomplishments throughout the season. Athletic awards handed out include the athletes of the year, the rookies of the year, breakthrough performances and teams of the year. Starting in 2019-20, the male and female coach of the year award has been combined into one head coach award. Athletic awards were not awarded in 2020-21 due to sport cancellations due to COVID-19. This year's voting includes spring sports of 2022 (baseball, men's and women's golf, rowing, softball, men's and women's outdoor track & field and tennis) and the fall and winter sports of the 2022-23 athletic year.
Golden Goldy Winners:
Female Athlete of the Year
2023: Taylor Heise, Hockey
2022: Sarah Bacon, Diving
2021: Was Not Awarded*
2020: Amber Fiser, Softball
2019: Lexy Ramler, Gymnastics
2018: Kaitlyn Long, Track & Field
2017: Sarah Wilhite, Volleyball
2016: Rachel Banham, Basketball
2015: Amanda Zahui B., Basketball
2014: Rachel Banham, Basketball
2013: Amanda Kessel, Hockey
2012: Megan Bozek, Hockey
2011: Kelci Bryant, Diving
2010: Kelci Bryant, Diving
2009: Gigi Marvin, Hockey
2008: Heather Dorniden, Track & Field
2007: Meredith Nelson, Volleyball
Male Athlete of the Year
2023: Brock Faber, Hockey | Max McHugh, Swimming
2022: Gable Steveson, Wrestling
2021: Was Not Awarded*
2020: Antoine Winfield, Football
2019: Jordan Murphy, Basketball
2018: Tristan Duran, Gymnastics
2017: Brett Pfarr, Wrestling
2016: Luca Weiland, Track & Field
2015: David Cobb, Football
2014: Adam Wilcox, Hockey
2013: Tony Nelson, Wrestling
2012: Tony Nelson, Wrestling
2011: Michael Richards, Swimming & Diving
2010: Jayson Ness, Wrestling
2009: Eric Decker, Football & Baseball
2008: Jayson Ness, Wrestling
2007: Cole Konrad, Wrestling
Female Rookie of the Year
2023: Mara Braun, Basketball
2022: Peyton Hemp, Hockey
2021: Was Not Awarded*
2020: Amira Young Track & Field
2019: Adanna Rollins, Volleyball
2018: Kendyl Lindaman, Softball
2017: Alexis Hart, Volleyball
2016: Samantha Seliger-Swenson, Volleyball
2015: Sara Groenewegen, Softball
2014: Amanda Zahui B., Basketball
2013: Hannah Brandt, Hockey
2012: Rachel Banham, Basketball
2011: Amanda Kessel, Hockey
2010: Noora Raty, Hockey
2009: Monique Lamoureux, Hockey
2008: Jillian Tyler, Swimming & Diving
2007: Heather Dorniden, Track &?Field
Male Rookie of the Year
2023: Logan Cooley, Hockey
2022: Matthew Knies, Hockey
2021: Was Not Awarded*
2020: Ben Meyers, Hockey
2019: Gable Steveson, Wrestling
2018: Shane Wiskus, Gymnastics
2017: Amir Coffey, Basketball
2016: Justin Karstadt, Gymnastics
2015: Jose Mendez, Golf
2014: Wally Ellenson, Track & Field
2013: Adam Wilcox, Hockey
2012: Dylan Ness, Wrestling
2011: Derek Toomey, Swimming & Diving
2010: AJ Pettersen, Baseball
2009: Jordan Schroeder, Hockey
2008: Hassan Mead, Cross Country
2007: Kyle Okposo, Hockey
Women's Team of the Year
2023: Hockey
2022: Gymnastics
2021: Was Not Awarded*
2020: Softball
2019: Hockey
2018: Softball
2017: Volleyball
2016: Hockey
2015: Hockey
2014: Hockey
2013: Hockey
2012: Hockey
2011: Swimming & Diving
2010: Volleyball
2009: Soccer
2008: Rowing
2007: Track &?Field
Men's Team of the Year
2023: Hockey
2022: Hockey
2021: Was Not Awarded*
2020: Football
2019: Baseball
2018: Gymnastics
2017: Basketball
2016: Tennis
2015: Football
2014: Hockey
2013: Wrestling
2012: Wrestling
2011: Track & Field
2010: Track & Field
2009: Track & Field
2008: Golf
2007: Wrestling
Female Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
2023: Taylor Landfair, Volleyball
2022: Mya Hooten, Gymnastics
2021: Was Not Awarded*
2020: Sydney Scobee, Hockey
2019: Taylor Morgan, Volleyball
2018: Temi Ogunrinde, Track & Field
2017: Sarah Wilhite, Volleyball
2016: Sam Macken, Softball
2015: Paige Tapp, Volleyball
2014: Rachael Bona, Hockey
2013: Katherine Harms, Volleyball
2012: Megan Bozek, Hockey
2011: Jessica Granquist, Volleyball
2010: Anne Schleper, Hockey
2009: Megan Duwell, Cross Country/Track & Field
2008: Leslie Knight, Basketball
Male Breakthrough Athlete of the Year
2023: Justen Close, Hockey
2022: Justen Close, Hockey
2021: Was Not Awarded*
2020: Tanner Morgan, Football
2019: Seth Green, Football
2018: Tyler Johnson, Football
2017: Derek Wiebke, Track & Field
2016: KJ Maye, Football
2015: Maxx Williams, Football
2014: David Cobb, Football
2013: Andre Hollins, Basketball
2012: Nate Schmidt, Hockey
2011: Kent Patterson, Hockey
2010: Mike Thorn, Wrestling
2009: Ben Kuznia, Football
2008: Damian Johnson, Basketball
Coach of the Year (Men's and Women's Coach of the Year combined into one in 2020):
2023: Bob Motzko, Hockey
2022: Bob Motzko, Hockey
2021: Was Not Awarded*
2020: P.J. Fleck, Football
Women's Team Coach of the Year
2019: Matt Bingle, Track & Field
2018: Hugh McCutcheon, Volleyball
2017: Hugh McCutcheon, Volleyball
2016: Hugh McCutcheon, Volleyball
2015: Brad Frost, Hockey
2014: Jessica Allister, Softball
2013: Brad Frost, Hockey
2012: Brad Frost, Hockey
2011: Kelly Kremer and Terry Nieszner, Swimming and Diving
2010: Mike Hebert, Volleyball
2009: Mikki Denney Wright, Soccer
2008: Wendy Davis, Rowing
Men's Team Coach of the Year
2019: John Anderson, Baseball
2018: Mike Burns, Gymnastics
2017: Richard Pitino, Basketball
2016: Mike Burns, Gymnastics
2015: Jerry Kill, Football
2014: Don Lucia, Hockey
2013: J Robinson/Brandon Eggum, Wrestling
2012: J Robinson, Wrestling
2011: Steve Plasencia, Track & Field
2010: John Anderson, Baseball
2009: Tubby Smith, Basketball
2008: Tubby Smith, Basketball
Teammate of the Year
2023: Business Office
2022: Brenda Fisher
2021: Heidi Meyer, Dr. Perry Leo
2020: Minnesota's Sport Psychology Department
2019: Skeeter Burroughs
2018: Eric Miller, Gopher Athletics Photographer
2017: Anissa Lightner
2016: Bob Swoverland
2015: Marty Bussman
2014: Jeff Keiser, Chris Lagasse, Michelle Traen
2013: Dr. Carly Anderson and Dr. Justin Anderson
2012: Joel and Lois Maturi
2011: Deborah Diamond, Marketing
2010: Jean Freeman, Former Women's Swimming and Diving Coach and U of M Hall of Fame President
2009: Cherie Carver, Radisson University
2008: Sue LaTendresse, Executive Administrative Specialist
2007: Alicia Jerome, Photographer
* Awards were not passed out in 2020 due to incomplete seasons during the COVID-19 pandemic.