Big Ten Athlete of the Year


The Big Ten Athlete of the Year award is given annually to the top male and female collegiate athletes in the Big Ten Conference. It was first awarded in 1982, with winners being selected by a panel of conference media members from nominations submitted by each school.

History

In 1982, the Big Ten Conference established their athlete of the year award, with the winners being selected by a panel of conference media members from nominations submitted by each school. The award for male winners is named after Ohio State track star Jesse Owens. The woman's award was previously known as the Suzy Favor Athlete of the Year before it was revealed in 2012 that Favor had worked as a prostitute for a Las Vegas escort service. The Big Ten removed her name from the women's award in July 2013 as a result.

Winners

Male

Officially known as the Big Ten Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year award
YearAthleteSchoolSport
1982Jim SpiveyIndianaTrack and field, cross country
1983Ed BanachIowaWrestling
1984Sunder NixIndianaTrack and field
1985Barry DavisIowaWrestling
1986Chuck LongIowaFootball
1987IndianaBasketball
1988MichiganBaseball
1989MichiganBasketball
1990IndianaFootball
1991MichiganSwimming and diving
1992MichiganFootball
1993MinnesotaGymnastics
1994PurdueBasketball
1995MichiganSwimming and diving
1996Ohio StateFootball
1997Ohio StateGymnastics
1998MichiganFootball
1999NorthwesternGolf
2000WisconsinFootball
2001Michigan StateIce hockey
2002MinnesotaIce hockey
2003IllinoisTennis
2003IllinoisWrestling
2004MinnesotaWrestling
2005Luis VargasPenn StateGymnastics
2006Peter VanderkaayMichiganSwimming and diving
2007Cole KonradMinnesotaWrestling
2008Brent MetcalfIowaWrestling
2009Jake HerbertNorthwesternWrestling
2010Ohio StateBasketball
2011PurdueSwimming and diving
2012Michigan StateBasketball
2013IndianaTrack and field
2014Penn StateWrestling
2015Ohio StateWrestling
2016Michigan StateBasketball
2017Ohio StateWrestling
2018Ohio StateWrestling
2019Penn StateWrestling
2020Ohio StateFootball
2021IowaBasketball
2022MinnesotaWrestling
2023PurdueBasketball
2024PurdueBasketball
2025Penn StateWrestling