SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- For the second straight year, JJ Cooney of the University of Sioux Falls Men's Golf Team has been selected to the NCAA DII CoSIDA Men's Academic District VII At-Large Team, according to an announcement today by CoSIDA.

Cooney was among the 15 individuals from District VII named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District VII At-Large Team. Cooney now advances to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot with first and second team honorees to be announced in early August.  

"JJ Cooney is the epitome of a student-athlete," said USF Men's Golf Head Coach Tavia Rutherford. "This year he worked a full-time job; played in every golf tournament; and excelled in the classroom. JJ is a natural leader and will be missed this fall. He helped build the USF Men's Golf tradition of excellence and will leaving a lasting legacy for years to come," Rutherford said.

 

A native of Pickstown, S.D., Cooney, who earlier this year was named an NSIC Scholar Athlete honor award recipient for the second straight year, helped lead the USF Men's Golf Program to the program's first-ever NCAA DII Central Region appearance. The Cougars, led by Cooney, finished 15^th at the NCAA DII Central Regional competition. Cooney, the program's first four-time All-NSIC honoree, finished regionals tied for 45^th overall at 12-over par 224 (75-73-77) at the regional.

In 2021, Cooney competed in eight events and totaled 22 rounds of golf for a team-best 75.31 scoring average for ninth in the NSIC. Cooney and his teammates ranked second in the NSIC in team scoring average at 299.8. He had a season-best finish of third at the Hillcat Classic in Owasso, Okla., which included a season-best round of two-under par 70 as he shot a  218 (76-72-70).

Cooney earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurial Studies in May and is be enrolled in the Master of Business Administration program. He was also selected to the CoSIDA At-Large All-District Team in 2020. The standout golfer, who was named USF's Male Student-Athlete of the Year on April 27, 2020, had four top-20 finishes in 2021 and owns 17 top-10 finishes, six top-five and an individual title in his career. He recently helped lead USF to a program-best third place finish at the NSIC Men's Golf Championships

Cooney is also a four-time Academic All-NSIC selection who received the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award for a GPA of 3.75 or higher. Cooney was also named the Vucurevich School of Business Outstanding Entrepreneurial Studies Senior during the Spirit of Excellence presentation in 2020.

The 2020-21 Academic All-District® At-Large Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes softball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.