Carras Announces 2001-02 to Be Final Season as Coach
7/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
| | Carras |
The seventh coach in Michigan men's golf history, Carras moved to the Wolverines' head coaching position in 1982 following four seasons as U-M assistant coach under Tom Simon (1978-82).
Carras is known as a "players coach" who possesses an uncanny ability to communicate with his team and relate to each individual on a personal level. The personal touch has enabled Carras to produce Michigan students and Wolverine athletes who excel in the classroom and on the course. Academics must always come before golf in Carras' system at Michigan.
Attesting to this belief are the 36 Academic All-Big Ten Conference citations earned by Carras' student-athletes since inception of the award in 1987. In addition to the conference classroom success, six of Carras Wolverines have been honored as National Golf Coaches Association All-America Academic Scholars: Michael Affeldt, 1999 and 2000; Anthony Dietz, 1992 and 1993; Michael Harris, 1999 and 2000; Bob Hennighan, 1992; Isaac Hinkle, 1997; and Kevin Vernick, 1998. In addition to his academic success, Harris was named an NCAA All-America honorable mention in 1999 and 2000.
Nine players have been coached by Carras to All-Big Ten Conference honors, including three-time winner Harris (1998, 99, 2000) and two-time award winners Dan Roberts (1983, '85) and Kyle Dobbs (1995, '97). Two Michigan players have collected Big Ten Championship medalist awards during Carras' tenure: Dobbs in 1997 and Harris in 1999. Andy Matthews became Michigan's first Big Ten Freshman of the Year award winner following his play in the 1999 conference championship.
Michigan has four times placed as high as third in the Big Ten Championships under Carras' direction (1985, '88, '95, '97). Nine times the Wolverines have finished among the top six conference teams. During the regular season, Carras teams have won six tournament titles and been in the top three 17 times.
In addition to the Big Ten Conference success, Carras has helped guide three teams to NCAA Championship play. The 1994-95 team qualified and finished 12th at the NCAA Central Regional Championship. His 1996-97 squad finished eighth at the NCAA Central Regional Championship and advanced to the NCAA Championship, where the Wolverines finished 25th. Three years later, his 1999-2000 squad finished the season tied for 11th at the NCAA Central Regional Championship, just missing the advancing to the championship finals.
Former Wolverine players mentored by Carras include PGA Tour professionals John Morse and Ed Humenik as well as Canadian Tour member Harris. Morse (1980-81), who has accumulated career earnings of more than $1.1 million, had three top-15 finishes on 1996 PGA Tour, including a fourth-place finish at the U.S. Open Championship. Humenik (1978-82) finished 100th on the PGA Tour money list in 1992. Harris (1997-2000) won the 2000 Tournament of Champions and finished fifth at the 2000 Michigan Open. He also qualified for the 2000 U.S. Open played at Pebble Beach, Calif. Another of Carras' standout players is Steve Maddalena (1979-82), who is a three-time winner of the Michigan Amateur Championship.
Carras is a 1958 graduate of Eastern Michigan University. He and wife Lou reside in Ann Arbor and have four adult children -- Linda, Lynn, Jim and Matina -- and nine grandchildren.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
