Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll
	Position: Head Coach Experience: 16th Year

As she enters her 16th season at the helm, Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll continues to carry the Spartan women's golf program into the regional and national spotlight year after year.

The driven former Spartan player was named head coach on June 20, 1997, and immediately began assembling the talent necessary to contend for Big Ten Championships and compete at the national level on a yearly basis.

In 15 seasons, she has led the Spartans to 14 straight NCAA Regional appearances (1999-2012), eight trips to the NCAA Championships (2000-03, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012), and four Big Ten titles (2001, 2007, 2011, 2012), including back-to-back conference crowns. In addition, Michigan State has won 30 tournaments during this span. Slobodnik-Stoll is a three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2001, 2007, 2012) and was named the Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1999.

"I believe that each year it is my responsibility to improve as a recruiter, a teacher, a sports psychologist, a motivator and a leader," said Slobodnik-Stoll. "We must keep up and be on the cutting edge for our student-athletes and our program. Once you have tasted victory, it's hard to forget. It only drives me to work harder to make sure that each year we will have an opportunity to win the Big Ten Championship and finish as one of the top programs in the country."

Over the last 15 years, Slobodnik-Stoll's players have earned All-Big Ten honors 33 times, including 21 first-team selections.

In 2010, Laura Kueny became the second player in program history to be named Big Ten Women's Golfer of the Year while also earning first-team All-Big Ten honors for the third consecutive season. Emily Bastel, who was recently named to the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame, became the first Spartan golfer to receive Big Ten Women's Golf Player of the Year honors in 2002. In addition, a Spartan player took home Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 1998 (Kasey Gant), 1999 (Bastel) and 2003 (Dayna Burleigh). Three Spartans have earned All-Big Ten honors four consecutive years: Kasey Gant (1998-2001), Bastel (1999-2002) and Aimee Neff (2008-11).

"Those rushes that you have as a coach and as a player - holding the trophy, seeing the Academic All-American awards given out - those moments are unforgettable," said Slobodnik-Stoll. "It drives you and the players to become better and better."

Individual accolades for Slobodnik-Stoll's players keep growing year by year. Bastel became just the second MSU golfer to be named to the Curtis Cup team in 2002, while Allison Fouch (2003), Laura Kueny (2010) and Christine Meier (2012) qualified for the U.S. Women's Open Championship as amateurs. Five Spartans (Bastel, Fouch, Kueny, Sara Brown, Caroline Powers) have garnered All-America accolades under Slobodnik-Stoll, and six times her players have won the George Alderton Female Athlete of the Year Award at Michigan State (Bastel in 2000 and 2002; Brown in 2007 and 2008; Powers in 2011 and 2012).

Slobodnik-Stoll's players have also gone beyond the college ranks. Fouch and Brown are currently on the LPGA Tour, while Stacy Snider (2004-06) and Bastel (2005-06, 2008) have also played on tour. Additionally, Kueny and Neff are currently playing on the Symetra LPGA Futures Tour.

Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll (far right) with former Spartan coach Mary Fossum and All-American Caroline Powers.

In the classroom, Slobodnik-Stoll's teams have been just as successful as on the golf course. This past year, the program boasted a 3.468 team GPA, highest of any team in the Michigan State Athletic Department. Five Spartans earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, and two were named to the National Golf Coaches Association All-Scholar Team. In her tenure, Spartan student-athletes have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors on 56 occasions and NGCA All-Scholar honors 27 times.

The 2011-12 Michigan State women's golf team added another chapter to the storied legacy of the program. The Spartans won their second straight Big Ten Championship, reached the NCAA Regionals for the 14th consecutive year, and advanced to the NCAA Championships for the 10th time in program history as Slobodnik-Stoll was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the third time in her career.

MSU claimed consecutive Big Ten titles in convincing fashion with a dominating 10-stroke victory over Purdue, marking the first time MSU has won back-to-back league crowns since winning five in a row from 1974-78. In addition, MSU has now placed in the top three at the Big Ten Championships for nine straight years.

The Spartans reached the NCAA Championships for the eighth time in the past 13 years with a thrilling finish at the NCAA East Regional in State College, Pa. Needing a top-eight finish at the 24-team regional to reach nationals, the Spartans vaulted from 12th place to a tie for sixth in the third and final round after carding a 5-under-par 283, tying for the second-best round in program history. Leading the charge was senior Lindsey Solberg, who carded a school single-round record with a 5-under 67. At the NCAA Championships in Franklin, Tenn., the Spartans carded a team score of 1201 (296-311-294-300) - a record low for the program at nationals (previous record: 1202 in 2002) - to finish 20th.

Leading the way once again for the Spartans was Powers, who earned honorable mention All-America and first-team All-Big Ten honors for the second straight season after compiling a 73.78 scoring average, second in program history only to her school record of 73.53 she set as a sophomore. With a minimum of 60 rounds played, Powers is currently first in MSU history with her 74.39 career average through three seasons and has 15 career top-10 finishes. Powers became just the fifth female athlete at Michigan State to win the George Alderton Female Athlete of the Award twice.

Solberg delivered her best season as Spartan as a senior in 2011-12 with a career-low 75.19 average to earn second-team All-Big Ten accolades. Solberg finished her career with the sixth-lowest scoring average in school history at 76.13 and was a three-time All-Big Ten selection. Liz Nagel was also named second-team All-Big Ten, marking the sixth time in Slobodnik-Stoll's career at least three Spartans earned all-conference honors.

Slobodnik-Stoll led Michigan State to its ninth Big Ten title in school history and the third of her tenure in 2011, holding off three-time defending Big Ten Champion and defending National Champion Purdue by five strokes. MSU was awarded an automatic bid to the NCAA East Regional, marking the 13th straight NCAA appearance for the Spartans. Although the team narrowly missed the cut for the NCAA Championships, Powers qualified as an individual and went on to place sixth, the best-ever showing by a Spartan at nationals. It capped a record-setting year for Powers, as the honorable mention All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection established a new MSU single-season low average with a 73.53. Powers also earned Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors in mid-April as she won the Lady Buckeye Invitational and helped the Spartans win the team title. In addition to Powers, Neff garnered All-Big Ten honors for the fourth straight year by making the first team, while Solberg was named to the second team. The Spartans finished the season ranked No. 16 in the Golfweek/Sagarin ratings.

In 2009-10, Michigan State posted one of its best overall seasons in school history. MSU claimed three tournament titles (Mary Fossum Invitational, Tar Heel Invitational, Gator Invitational), set numerous team records, including the best overall 54-hole tournament score, and earned a berth to the NCAA Regionals for the 12th consecutive year. The Spartans placed second at the 2010 Big Ten Championship, marking the seventh straight year MSU has finished in the top three at Big Ten's. In one of the biggest regular-season tournament wins for the program, the Spartans claimed the Tar Heel Invitational by 12 strokes over nine top-25 teams after shooting a school-record score of 860 (-4), earning National Team of the Week honors.

Kueny, who set a then single-season scoring average record at MSU with a 73.85, was named the 2010 Big Ten Golfer of the Year and a second-team All-American. She finished her career as the all-time scoring average leader (74.60) at MSU. In addition, MSU tied a program record with four players (Natalie Brehm, Aimee Neff, Caroline Powers, Lindsey Solberg) earning NGCA All-Scholar accolades.

The Spartans advanced to the NCAA Championships for the seventh time in the past 10 years during the 2008-09 season, posting the program's second-best finish in school history by tying for 13th place. MSU also defeated top-seed and third-ranked UCLA in the Hooter's Match Play Championships in November.

Individually, Kueny became the program's 10th All-American, as her 74.50 season scoring average ranked third all-time in program history. In addition to Kueny, Solberg was also an NGCA All-Central Region pick. Solberg was second on the team with a 76.81 scoring average and led the Spartans at both the NCAA Central Regional, where she finished sixth, and the NCAA Championships with a tie for 39th. Solberg and Neff were each named to the All-Big Ten second team.

In 2007-08, the Spartans posted three tournament wins (Mary Fossum Invitational, CDI, "Mo"Morial) and seven top five finishes in 11 events, earning them a top-20 finish in all three national polls. MSU placed second at the Big Ten Championships, their eighth top-three finish under Slobodnik-Stoll, and finished 11th at the NCAA West Regional, one stroke short of an NCAA berth. At season's end, Brown, who set the school's single-season and career stroke average records, was named an honorable mention All-American, the third under Slobodnik-Stoll, and the George Alderton Female Athlete of the Year for the second time. Brown was joined by Kueny on the All-Big Ten first team, while Neff was named to the second team. Also, Brown posted three individual titles, while Kueny added her first career win. After the Spartans' win at the "Mo"Morial, they were named Golfweek's National Team of the Week and had previously been named to the publication's team of the week honor week after their win at the CDI.

The 2006-07 Spartans were ranked among the nation's top 25 throughout the season, achieving a final ranking of 19th after a 16th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The team posted wins on their home course, Forest Akers West Golf Course, in the Lady Northern and the Big Ten Championship, and finished in second place four times. Two individuals won medalist honors, with Brown winning the Landfall Tradition and Rachel Meikle winning the Big Ten Championship - the second time an MSU golfer has won the tournament under Slobodnik-Stoll. In the process, Slobodnik-Stoll earned her second Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year award. Brown (first team) and Meikle (second team) were joined by Mandi McConnell (second team) on the All-Big Ten teams, while Brown also took home the George Alderton Female Athlete of the Year.

The 2005-06 edition of Michigan State women's golf opened the season by not only winning the Mary Fossum Invitational (Sept. 17-18) but setting a tournament record with a three-day team total of 889 (299-295-295). The Spartans went on to earn a berth in the NCAA Central Regional for the eighth consecutive season.

A youthful squad in 2004-05, Michigan State did not have a single senior as a member of the traveling party, yet advanced to the NCAA Championship for the fifth time in six years en route to a 17th-place finish that season. In addition to the NCAA Championships, MSU closed out the season with a championship at the Buckeye Invitational, a third-place showing at the Big Ten Championship and a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Central Regionals.

The 2003-04 squad, which finished ranked 19th in the Golfweek/Sagarin poll, won three tournament titles (Badger, Mary Fossum and Boilermaker) and also captured the Spartan/Wildcat Cup in February. MSU placed third at both the Big Ten Championships and the NCAA Central Regionals, while advancing to the NCAA Championships. MSU's third-place showing in regional play equaled the team's best-ever showing. Three Spartans (Allison Fouch - first team, and Ann Marie Kersten and Sarah Martin - second team) picked up All-Big Ten accolades and Fouch earned honorable mention All-America honors after placing tied for 16th at the 2004 NCAA Championship.

Although the team included just four returning letterwinners, the 2002-03 Spartans finished in the top 10 in nine of 11 tournaments including a season-best third-place showing at the Mary Fossum Invitational. It also marked MSU's fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Regional Championships where the Spartans fell just short of advancing to the NCAA Championships.

Michigan State made its third straight trip to the NCAA Championship in 2002, where the Spartans placed 19th. MSU, which finished the year ranked 14th by Golfweek/Sagarin, also hosted the 2002 NCAA Central Region Championships at Forest Akers West Golf Course in May. Overall, MSU captured three titles (Pine Needles Invitational, Central District Classic and the USF Waterlefe Invitational). Bastel was named the George Alderton Female Athlete of the Year for the second time.

Slobodnik-Stoll's work ethic paid off in the spring of 2001 as she led MSU to its first Big Ten Championship since 1982. The Spartans placed third at the NCAA West Regionals and posted the school's best-ever finish at the NCAA Championships with a 12th-place showing. MSU finished the year ranked 16th in the Mastercard Collegiate rankings, while Golfweek had MSU ranked 19th. For her efforts, Slobodnik-Stoll was named the 2001 Big Ten Coach of the Year.

During the 1999-2000 season, Slobodnik-Stoll led MSU to a runner-up finish at the Big Ten Championship and its first NCAA Championship appearance since 1984. The Spartans also broke into the national rankings for the first time and finished the year ranked 19th in the country. After the school year, Bastel was named the program's first George Alderton Female Athlete of the Year winner.

Slobodnik-Stoll's first season (1997-98) as head coach was highlighted by a second-place finish in the newly-named Mary Fossum Invitational in the fall and a record-setting campaign by then-freshman Kasey Gant.

That success multiplied in 1998-99, however, as the Spartans engineered the biggest one-year turnaround in Big Ten history (ninth to third in the conference tournament). Michigan State reached the NCAA East Regional that year as well and Slobodnik was named Midwest District Coach of the Year.

A three-year letterwinner at Michigan State, the Kentwood, Mich., native captained the 1992-93 and 1993-94 Spartan squads and shot 11 rounds in the 70s during her final campaign at MSU. After earning her bachelor's degree in communication in 1994, Slobodnik-Stoll played professionally while living in Orlando, Fla. She saw action on the Futures Tour and the Central Florida Challenge for one year prior to returning to MSU in 1995 as an assistant to the legendary coach Mary Fossum.

"One of the goals when I came back as an assistant was to learn everything I could from Mary (Fossum) and use her tools while incorporating my knowledge and philosophy as well," said Slobodnik-Stoll. "Mary is a special person, and I can't thank her enough for all she's done for me."

Slobodnik-Stoll had the opportunity to gain international coaching experience during the summer of 2002 as she served as the head coach for Team USA in the USA-Japan Matches at the Glen Club in Glenville, Ill.

The Spartan coach also continues to hone her own golf game, winning Michigan State Amateur titles in 1996 and 1998 en route to earning Golf Association of Michigan Player of the Year, an award she won for the third time in 2007. In addition, she has won the last seven of the last eight Golf Association of Michigan Mid-Amateur Championships and the GAM Tournament of Club Champions on three occasions (2004, 2007, 2009). For all of her efforts on the course, Slobodnik-Stoll was named the GAM Women's Player of the Decade in 2010.

Slobodnik-Stoll has qualified for the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship four times (1994, 1996, 1998, 2001) and in 1997, she participated as an amateur at the LPGA Oldsmobile Classic at Walnut Hills Country Club in East Lansing and fired a 77-73, missing the cut by just four strokes.

In 1996, Slobodnik-Stoll finished fourth among amateurs at the Michigan Women's Open Tournament and in 1998, she won the Golf Association of Michigan Women's Stroke Play Championship. She was the top amateur finisher at the 2004 Michigan Women's Open Championship.

Born Sept. 8, 1971, Slobodnik-Stoll received her master's degree in sports administration from Michigan State in 1999. She resides in Haslett with her husband Jim Stoll and daughter Olivia, born Sept. 29, 2003.

SLOBODNIK-STOLL: BY THE NUMBERS

3 - Big Ten Coach of the Year Awards
4 - Big Ten Championships
14 - NCAA Regional Appearances
8 - NCAA Championship Appearances
30 - Team Tournament Wins
5 - All-Americans
2 - Big Ten Players of the Year
3 - Big Ten Freshmen of the Year
33 - All-Big Ten Selections
56 - Academic All-Big Ten Selections
27 - NGCA Scholar All-America Honorees
6 - George Alderton Female Athletes of the Year

THE SLOBODNIK-STOLL FILE

Education:
East Kentwood High School, 1989
Michigan State University, B.A. 1994; M.S. 1999

Coaching Experience:
Head Coach, Michigan State (1997-present)
Assistant Coach, Michigan State (1995-97)

Coaching Honors:
1999 - Midwest Region Coach of the Year
2001 - Big Ten Coach of the Year
2002 - Head Coach of Team USA for USA-Japan Match
2007 - Big Ten Coach of the Year

Competitive Honors/Achievements:
1989 - Prep Super Team
1991 - Grand Rapids City Champion
1993 - Michigan State Captain
1994 - Michigan State Captain
1994-95 - Futures Tour
1994 - U.S. Amateur Championship Qualifier
1996 - State Amateur Champion
1996 - U.S. Amateur Championship Qualifier
1996 - Golf Association of Michigan Player of the Year
1997 - State Amateur Runner-Up
1998 - State Amateur Champion
1998 - Golf Association of Michigan Stroke Play Champion
1998 - U.S. Amateur Championship Qualifier
1998 - Golf Association of Michigan Player of the Year
2001 - U.S. Amateur Championship Qualifier
2004 - Michigan Open Low Amateur
2005 - GAM Women's Mid-Amateur Champion
2006 - GAM Women's Mid-Amateur Champion
2007 - GAM Women's Mid-Amateur Champion
2007 - Golf Association of Michigan Women's Player of the Year
2008 - GAM Women's Mid-Amateur Champion
2008 - Golf Association of Michigan Women's Player of the Year
2009 - GAM Women's Mid-Amateur Champion
2010 - Named GAM Female Player of the Decade
2010 - GAM Women's Mid-Amateur Champion
2012 - GAM Women's Mid-Amateur Champion