NORMAN, Okla. – Sun Devil Armen Kirakossian has been selected recipient of the 2019 Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award presented by TaylorMade Golf Company 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.
Kirakossian of Arizona State Recipient of Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award presented by TaylorMade Golf Company. https://t.co/LkIWaC3QEU @sundevilmgolf @TaylorMadeGolf pic.twitter.com/YAf3gV7GHW
— GCAA (@GolfCoachesAssn) May 7, 2019
Kirakossian is in his second season at Arizona State after serving two years as assistant at Pepperdine. This season the Sun Devils have posted four team victories - all in the spring - in addition to five runner-up finishes. Arizona State posted three team wins in Kirakossian's first campaign. While at Pepperdine he helped the Waves to their best finish at the NCAA Championships and best end-of-season ranking since 2004. Prior to his stint at Pepperdine Kirakossian was the head coach at his alma mater, Texas Pan American.
.@TheSunDevils and Grayhawk to host the 2020, 2021 & 2022 NCAA Division I Men's & Women's Golf Championships. #GoDevils pic.twitter.com/Nr2daaSImE
— Arizona State Sun Devils (@TheSunDevils) June 13, 2017
CRAZY STAT: Six Sun Devils have earned or shared medalist honors this season. Jino Sohn and James Leow tied for first at the 37-player 2019 Arizona Intercollegiate individual tournament (Jan. 28-29). Alex del Rey won the 84-player National Invitational March 18-19 and freshman Cameron Sisk earned the Sonoran Showdown 20-player event, with both events taking place in Tucson. Sophomore Mason Andersen won a playoff to claim the 91-player field at San Diego's Lamkin Grips Classic on March 11-12, and then Chun An Yu put his name in the 2019 winner's column April 12-13 at ASU's Thunderbird Collegiate.
QUIETLY HAVING A GOOD SEASON: Lost in the chatter about six individual winners and three straight team titles is the solid season freshman Cameron Sisk is having, as his stroke average is currently the best by any Sun Devil freshman, with some pretty good golfers on the list dating to 1985. He earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
SUN DEVIL FRESHMAN SCORING AVERAGES (1985-2019)
Cameron Sisk, 11, 2018-19, 71.15
Jon Rahm, 15, 2012-13, 71.37
Chun An Yu, 9, 2016-17, 71.61
Alejandro Canizares, 8, 2002-03, 71.65
Mason Andersen, 13, 2017-18, 71.95
Todd Demsey, 15, 1991-92, 72.10
Alex del Rey, 12, 2016-17, 72.14
Phil Mickelson, 14, 1988-89, 72.14
Jesper Kennegard, 12, 2007-08, 72.16
Chan Kim, 8, 2008-09, 72.20
SUN DEVIL TEAM WINS UNDER MATT THURMOND/ARMEN KIRAKOSSIAN PAST TWO SEASONS
ASU Thunderbird Collegiate/April 12-13, 2019
National Invitational Tournament/Mar. 18-19, 2019
Lamkin Grips San Diego Classic/Mar. 11-12, 2019
John Burns Intercollegiate/Feb. 21-23, 2019
ASU Thunderbird Invitational/April 14-15, 2018
Bandon Dunes Intercollegiate/March 11-13, 2018
Maui Jim Intercollegiate/September 22-24, 2017
SUN DEVIL INDIVIDUAL WINS UNDER MATT THURMOND/ARMEN KIRAKOSSIAN IN PAST TWO SEASONS
Chun An Yu (Jr.) ASU Thunderbird Collegiate (April 12-13, 2019)
Alex del Rey (Jr.) National Invitational Tournament (Mar. 18-19, 2019)
Mason Andersen (So.) Lamkin Grips San Diego Classic (Mar. 11-12, 2019)
Chun An Yu (So.) Bandon Dunes Invitational (Mar. 11-13, 2018)
Alex del Rey (So.) Maui Jim Intercollegiate (Sept. 22-24, 2017)
"What a humbling honor it is to be named the Jan Strickland Award recipient," said Kirakossian. "I can't thank the players enough for the amazing relationships and the effort they give everyday and Arizona State University for giving me the opportunity to do what I love at a place with such a high commitment to excellence. Big thank you to both head coaches Matt Thurmond and Michael Beard for their friendship and mentorship. They have both shaped me into the coach I am today and I am forever grateful of that. To my wife for being my greatest supporter, always standing by my side. I would also like to extend a huge thank you to the GCAA, TaylorMade, and the Strickland Award Committee for their hard work and time during the selection process. It is such a privilege to coach college golf and I wake up every day with a passion to build the program and help our student-athletes achieve their dreams."
TaylorMade Golf Company has sponsored the Strickland Award since its inception in 2003.