FightingIllini.com
The Official Home of University of Illinois Athletics
- Men's Sports
- MEN'S SPORTS
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Football
- Golf
- WOMEN'S SPORTS
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Soccer
|
Justin Fetcho joined the Illinois men's golf staff in February 2013. He most recently was assistant women's golf coach at the University of Oregon.
"We're excited to have Justin join our program," Small said. "He brings a lot of experience and energy to us and he comes very highly recommended by a number of other college golf coaches. He's coming back to his home state and he will play a big part in our program, both in recruiting and in working with our players once they get to campus."
At Oregon, Fetcho helped guide the women's team to the lowest scoring average in school history (298.7), coaching 2012 second-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 player Cassy Isagawa. She posted the lowest scoring average and best national ranking in school history (72.57 and 10th, respectively), and posted 19 rounds of par or better, which also was an Oregon record.
The Ducks blew away the previous 54-hole school record by 21 shots in posting a 4-under-par 848 at the Stanford Intercollegiate in 2012. Fetcho also served as the team's interim head coach for much of the 2012 spring season while head coach Ria Scott was on maternity leave, and managed the team's Facebook and Twitter accounts.
"It's great to have the opportunity to come back home and I want to thank Coach Small for giving it to me," Fetcho said. "The Illini golf program speaks for itself and the chance to work with one of the game's best coaches is unbelievable.
"Recruiting is my passion. Illinois has done a great job in the past, but once you get to the top it doesn't mean the hard work stops. You have to keep bringing in the right players for the university and the program, so I look forward to the challenge of keeping this thing going and hopefully bringing a national championship to the University of Illinois."
Prior to his time in Eugene, Fetcho was the assistant men's golf coach at South Florida from 2009-11. He served as the tournament director of the USF Invitational and assisted with fundraising, which helped build a new practice facility during his tenure in Tampa.
Fetcho helped guide the Bulls to their best finish at the Big East tournament since 2005 when they placed fourth in 2011. He also helped sign the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history in 2011 and helped the Bulls to the biggest grade-point average improvement among all USF men's sports in fall 2010 before guiding them to the highest men's team GPA honor in spring 2011. USF had All-Big East selections in 2010 and 2011, and recorded four Academic All-Big East honors in 2010.
A native of Eldorado, Ill., Fetcho finished second in the 2008 Illinois Open and played events on the Nationwide, Hooters, E-Golf and Moonlight Tours from 2007-09. He holds three course records: Saline County Country Club (57, -13), Helfrich Hills Golf Course (64, -7) and Fairfield Country Club (63, -7).
Fetcho was a two-time Golf Coaches Association of America All-American Scholar at USF in 2006 and 2007, and was an NJCAA All-American in 2005 at John A. Logan College, finishing third at the 2005 NJCAA Division II national championships. He graduated from USF in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education.
THE FETCHO FILE
Education: University of South Florida, bachelor's degree in elementary education, 2007
Coaching Experience
| Years | School | Position |
| 2013- | University of Illinois | Assistant men's golf coach |
| 2011-13 | University of Oregon | Assistant women's golf coach |
| 2009-11 | University of South Florida | Assistant men's golf coach |
Professional Playing Experience
| Years | School |
| 2007-09 | Played events on Nationwide, Hooters, E-Golf and Moonlight Tours |
College Playing Career
| Years | School |
| 2006-07 | University of South Florida |
| 2004-05 | John A. Logan College |
Playing Career Highlights
• Two-time GCAA All-American Scholar
• 2005 NJCAA All-American
• Finalist for 2007 Big East Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
• Two-time Academic All-Big East selection
• Holds three course records (Saline County Country Club, 57 (-13); Helfrich Hills Golf Course, 64 (-7), Fairfield Country Club, 63 (-7)
