Missouri athletes, coaches earn awards

The MU Department of Athletics held its first ROARS Awards Show on Monday night at Mizzou Arena. The event, which was the brainchild of the Mizzou Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, honored numerous student-athletes, coaches and professors who made significant contributions to 2008-09 MU sports programs.

Men's basketball coach Mike Anderson was voted the Coach of the Year for the Tigers' run to the Elite Eight of the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Anderson, who just completed his third season at Missouri, was also recognized with the Coaches' Academic Enhancement Award.

Men's basketball player Zaire Taylor was also was a multiple award winner. He was named Male Rookie of the Year and earned male Highlight of the Year honors for his game-winning shot against Kansas.

Soccer standout Michelle Collins took home a pair of awards. She earned the Female Varsity M Award for the best combined efforts in athletics and academics and was given the Director of Athletics Leadership Award. Collins and her teammates also won Performance of the Year for their run to the championship of the Big 12 Soccer Tournament and earned the Community Service Award.

The evening concluded with the awarding of the male and female athlete of the year award. The male honor went to 2008 consensus first-team All-American tight end and Mackey Award winner Chase Coffman. The female award was won by gymnast Sarah Shire for a season that included winning the Big 12 Conference all-around and earning All-American honors at NCAA Championship Finals.

The following rundown of award winners includes all nominees, with winners denoted by asterisks:

Coach of the Year
*Mike Anderson - Men's Basketball
Bryan Blitz - Soccer
Rick McGuire - Men's & Women's Track & Field

Male "For the Love of the Game"
The walk-on who makes significant contributions to their team
*Chris Johnson - Men's Golf
Beau Brinkley - Football
Pat Fitzgerald - Track & Field

Female "For the Love of the Game"

The walk-on who makes significant contributions to their team

*Kendra Collins - Soccer

Keely Brooks - Swimming & Diving

Lauren Nuckolls - Volleyball

Lauren Stephenson - Gymnastics

Community Service Award

*Soccer

Gymnastics

Women's Golf

Male Highlight of the Year

*Men's Basketball - Zaire Taylor's game-winning shot against Kansas

Football - Jeremy Maclin's punt return vs. Northwestern

Swimming & Diving - Greg DeStephen platform diving effort at Big 12 Championships

Female Highlight of the Year

*Swimming & Diving - Kayla Durnil's 200-meter breaststroke win at Big 12 Championships

Golf - Julia Potter at the Johnie Imes Invitational

Softball - Julie Silver

Varsity M Male Athlete of the Year

Chosen by the Varsity M Association, this award combines the best in the categories of athletics and academics

*Kurtis Gregory - Football

Kyle Gibson - Baseball

Peter Malnati - Men's Golf

Jeff Wolfert - Football

Varsity M Female Athlete of the Year

Chosen by the Varsity M Association, this award combines the best in the categories of athletics and academics

*Michelle Collins - Soccer

Alicia Hatcher - Gymnastics

Madison Marcolla - Golf

Chelsea Schriewer - Golf

Male Rookie of the Year

Open to freshmen or junior college transfers

*Zaire Taylor - Basketball

Aaron Dixon - Track & Field

Elvis Fisher - Football

Female Rookie of the Year

Open to freshmen or junior college transfers

*Shannon Leinert - Track & Field

Mary Burke - Gymnastics

Jordan Morcom - Swimming & Diving

Dr. Judith A Wells Male Academic Achievement Award

*J.T. Tiller - Basketball

Marcus Hoehn - Wrestling

Del Howard - Football

Dr. Judith A. Wells Female Academic Achievement Award

*Krishna Lee - Track & Field

Danielle Gruder - Gymnastics

Krista Kruse - Soccer

Male Unsung Hero Award:

Given to someone who is a vital part of leadership to the team in a behind-the-scenes way

*Ben Wade - Track & Field

Dom Bradley - Wrestling

Matt Lawrence - Basketball

Female Unsung Hero Award:

Given to someone who is a vital part of leadership to the team in a behind-the-scenes way

*Liz Straatmann - Gymnastics

Coralie Baumann - Swimming & Diving

Janelle Cordia - Soccer

Shakara Jones - Basketball

Professor of the Year

*Jung Ha-Brookshire - Textile and Apparel Management

Cheryl Hall - English

Michelle Martindill - Peace Studies

Male Courage Award

Given to someone who has overcome significant adversity to succeed in all areas

*Brian Coulter - Football

Scooter Hicks - Baseball

Andrew Wood - Wrestling

Female Courage Award

Given to someone who has overcome significant adversity to succeed in all areas

*Christina Gailey - Swimming & Diving

Lana Mims - Track & Field

Lei Wang - Volleyball

Male "We Are Mizzou" Award

Given to someone who best encompasses the core values of academic integrity, social responsibility and athletic excellence

*Peter Malnati - Golf

Kurtis Gregory - Football

Matt Lawrence - Basketball

Female "We Are Mizzou" Award

Given to someone who best encompasses the core values of academic integrity, social responsibility and athletic excellence

*Alicia Hatcher - Gymnastics

Krishna Lee - Track & Field

Madison Marcolla - Golf

Team Performance of the Year

Votes were compiled on March 19

*Soccer - Wins 2008 Big 12 Tournament

Baseball - April 11, 2008 win against Texas

Men's Basketball - Wins 2009 Big 12 Tournament

Coach's Academic Enhancement Award

The head or assistant coach who best fosters and supports the mission of the Total Person Program

*Mike Anderson - Men's Basketball

Rob Drass - Gymnastics

Lee Pritts - Wrestling

Director of Athletics Leadership Award

*Michelle Collins - Soccer

Kurtis Gregory - Football

Alicia Hatcher - Gymnastics

Matt Lawrence - Men's Basketball

Krishna Lee - Women's Track & Field

Peter Malnati - Men's Golf

Male Athlete of the Year

*Chase Coffman - Football

DeMarre Carroll - Basketball

Kyle Gibson - Baseball

Chris Rohr - Track & Field

Female Athlete of the Year

*Sarah Shire - Gymnastics

Lori Halvorson - Swimming & Diving

Tiger Cup Award

Awarded to the team which won the first annual Tiger Cup Award, a team competition that sports earned for achievement in academics, in athletics and for community involvement

*Soccer