Jackson Koivun named 2025-26 Roy F. Kramer SEC Male Athlete of the Year

AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn’s Jackson Koivun has been named the 2025-26 Roy F. Kramer SEC Male Athlete of the Year by a vote of the league's athletics directors, Commissioner Greg Sankey announced on Tuesday, the first men’s golf recipient in the award’s 51-year history.

Koivun becomes Auburn’s fifth SEC Athlete of the Year and the first male winner since Bo Jackson 40 years ago. Koivun joins Harvey Glance (1976), Rowdy Gaines (1981), Jackson (1986) and Auburn’s only female winner, Kirsty Coventry (2005), in the exclusive club.

“Jackson Koivun is incredibly deserving of this prestigious honor,” Auburn athletics director John Cohen said. “In addition to his extraordinary achievements on the course, Jackson continues to represent Auburn in a word-class manner off the course as well. On behalf of Auburn Athletics, we congratulate Jackson on winning the Kramer Award.”

Koivun concluded his amateur career in June in the 126th U.S. Open, finishing 23rd and tying for low amateur. He wrapped up his unparalleled Auburn career June 3 by helping Auburn win its second NCAA championship in three years. He won individual SEC championships in each of his three seasons on the Plains, becoming the first SEC golfer to threepeat in six decades.

“What an incredible honor for an incredible athlete,” men’s golf coach Nick Clinard said. “This reflects the commitment, discipline and competitive spirit Jackson brought every single day. We’re incredibly proud of him—not just for what he’s accomplished on the golf course, but for the way he has represented our program, our university and his teammates. This recognition is well deserved and shows that he belongs among the Auburn greats.”

Koivun earned his Tour membership at the end of his sophomore season through the PGA Tour U Accelerated program, which awards collegiate players with points based on outstanding accomplishments in the sport, eventually earning more than twice the 20 points required for Tour membership. 

Koivun won a program-record 11 tournaments for Auburn, tying for the most in SEC history and tied for the seventh most in NCAA history. Auburn’s active record holder in 16 categories, he became the first man to win all three national player of the year awards (Haskins, Hogan, Nicklaus) twice, as a freshman in 2024 and a junior in 2026.

By winning in his third professional start at the 3M Open in July, Koivun becomes the second fastest in history to earn a PGA Tour victory.

Oklahoma gymnast Faith Torrez is the 2025-26 Roy F. Kramer SEC Female Athlete of the Year.

“Jackson and Faith represent what it means for a young person to fully participate and succeed as a student and as an athlete in the Southeastern Conference,” Sankey said. “Jackson and Faith both achieved the highest levels of competitive excellence, represented by perfect scores, national awards, and championships. We are proud and grateful for their outstanding representation of the SEC and of the accomplishments they have achieved as members of their university communities.”

The other male nominees were Samuel Ogazi, Alabama (track & field); Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas (basketball); Josh Liendo, Florida (swimming & diving); Daniel Jackson, Georgia (baseball); Tyler Bell, Kentucky (baseball); Jaiden Reid, LSU (track & field): Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan, Ole Miss (track & field); Ace Reese, Mississippi State (baseball); Collier Dyer, Missouri (swimming & diving); Jaxon Willits, Oklahoma (baseball); Lucas Andrade da Silva, South Carolina (tennis); Bennett Greene, Tennessee (swimming & diving); Hubert Kós, Texas (swimming & diving); Cashius Howell, Texas A&M (football); Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (football).

The other female nominees were Doris Lemngole, Alabama (cross country/track & field); Maria Jose Marin, Arkansas (golf); DJ Bennett, Auburn (tennis); Alida van Daalen, Florida (track & field); Adaejah Hodge, Georgia (track & field); Eva Hudson, Kentucky (volleyball); Kailin Chio, LSU (gymnastics); Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss (basketball); Alyssa Faircloth, Mississippi State (softball); Valentina Barrios, Missouri (track & field); Sophie Verzyl, South Carolina (swimming & diving); Karlyn Pickens, Tennessee (softball); Farah O'Keefe, Texas (golf); Lucciana Perez, Texas A&M (tennis); Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt (basketball).

The SEC Athletes of the Year Awards were first presented in 1976 for men and 1984 for women. The award was renamed the Roy F. Kramer Athletes of the Year in 2004 to honor the former Commissioner who served the conference from 1990-2002.

Past recipients of the SEC Athlete of the Year Award include: 2025 - Walter Clayton Jr., Florida (basketball) and Dasha Vidmanova, Georgia (tennis); 2024 - Jayden Daniels, LSU (football) and Parker Valby, Florida (cross country/track & field); 2023 – Dylan Crews, LSU (baseball) and Trinity Thomas, Florida (gymnastics); 2022 - Bryce Young, Alabama (football) and Aliyah Boston, South Carolina (basketball); 2021 - DeVonta Smith, Alabama (football) and Madison Lilley, Kentucky (volleyball); 2020 - Joe Burrow, LSU (football) and Tyasha Harris, South Carolina (basketball); 2019 - Grant Holloway, Florida (track & field) and Maria Fassi, Arkansas (golf); 2018 - Caeleb Dressel, Florida (swimming) and A’ja Wilson, South Carolina (basketball); 2017 - Brent Rooker, Mississippi State (baseball) and Kendell Williams, Georgia (track & field); 2016 - Jarrion Lawson, Arkansas (track & field) and Bridget Sloan, Florida (gymnastics); 2015 - Andrew Benintendi, Arkansas (baseball) and Lauren Haeger, Florida (softball); 2014 - AJ Reed, Kentucky (baseball) and Hannah Rogers, Florida (softball); 2013 - Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (football) and Allison Schmitt, Georgia (swimming); 2012 - Anthony Davis, Kentucky (basketball) and Brooke Pancake, Alabama (golf); 2011 - John-Patrick Smith, Tennessee (tennis) and Kayla Hoffman, Alabama (gymnastics); 2010 - Mark Ingram, Alabama (football) and Susan Jackson, LSU (gymnastics); 2009 - Tim Tebow, Florida (football) and Courtney Kupets, Georgia (gymnastics); 2008 - Tim Tebow, Florida (football) and Candace Parker, Tennessee (basketball); 2007 - David Price, Vanderbilt (baseball) and Monica Abbott, Tennessee (softball); 2006 - Xavier Carter, LSU (track & field) and Seimone Augustus, LSU (basketball); 2005 - Ryan Lochte, Florida (swimming) and Kirsty Coventry, Auburn (swimming); 2004 - Alistair Cragg, Arkansas (cross country/track) and Jeana Rice, Alabama (gymnastics); 2003 - Alistair Cragg, Arkansas (cross country/track) and LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State (basketball); 2002 - Walter Davis, LSU (track & field) and Andree’ Pickens, Alabama (gymnastics); 2001 - Matias Boeker, Georgia (tennis) and Amy Yoder Begley, Arkansas (cross country/track); 2000 - Kip Bouknight , South Carolina (baseball) and Kristy Kowal, Georgia (swimming); 1999 - Tim Couch, Kentucky (football) and Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee (basketball); 1998 - Peyton Manning, Tennessee (football) and Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee (basketball); 1997 - Danny Wuerffel, Florida (football) and Trinity Johnson, South Carolina (softball); 1996 - Danny Wuerffel, Florida (football) and Saudia Roundtree, Georgia (basketball); 1995 - Todd Helton, Tennessee (baseball) and Jenny Hansen, Kentucky (gymnastics); 1994 - Corliss Williamson, Arkansas (basketball) and Nicole Haislett, Florida (swimming); 1993 - Jamal Mashburn, Kentucky (basketball) and Nicole Haislett, Florida (swimming); 1992 - Shaquille O'Neal, LSU (basketball) and Vicki Goetze, Georgia (golf); 1991 - Shaquille O'Neal, LSU (basketball) and Daedra Charles, Tennessee (basketball); 1990 - Alec Kessler, Georgia (basketball) and Dee Foster, Alabama (gymnastics); 1989 - Derrick Thomas, Alabama (football) and Bridgette Gordon, Tennessee (basketball); 1988 - Will Perdue, Vanderbilt (basketball) and Dara Torres, Florida (swimming); 1987 - Cornelius Bennett, Alabama (football) and Lillie Leatherwood-King, Alabama (track and field); 1986 - Bo Jackson, Auburn (football) and Jennifer Gillom, Ole Miss (basketball); 1985 - Will Clark, Mississippi State (baseball) and Penney Hauschild, Alabama (gymnastics); 1984 - Terry Hoage, Georgia (football) and Tracy Caulkins, Florida (swimming); 1983 - Herschel Walker, Georgia (football/track and field); 1982 - Buck Belue, Georgia (football/baseball); 1981 - Rowdy Gaines, Auburn (swimming); 1980 - Kyle Macy, Kentucky (basketball); 1979 - Reggie King, Alabama (basketball); 1978 - Jack Givens, Kentucky (basketball); 1977 - Larry Seivers, Tennessee (football); and 1976 - Harvey Glance, Auburn (track and field).