University of North Texas Athletics
Women's Golf Wins American Conference Team Academic Excellence Award
7/16/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Golf
Women’s golfers notch second-consecutive American Team Academic Excellence Award
IRVING, Texas – The UNT women's golf program has received the American Conference Team Academic Excellence Award for the second-straight year, the league announced Thursday.
The American's Academic Excellence Award is given to the team with the highest GPA in the conference for its respective sport.
"I am very proud of our ladies to be recognized for the top GPA in the American Conference again," head coach Michael Akers said. "Most of our student-athletes want to play pro golf but they understand the importance of academics, and they put in the time to excel. It is very important to be well rounded because, at any given time, an athletic career can end."
"Academic excellence has transcended over a period of years now in our program. Obviously, it is important to me and I talk about it, but I believe the student-athletes are focusing on it and teaching the newcomers our expectations."
The Mean Green compiled a 3.89 cumulative grade point average in 2025-26 and has posted a 3.80 or higher GPA for each of the past five semesters, including the highest mark for the 2026 spring semester across all programs at North Texas at a 3.876.
In 10 seasons under Akers, 45 UNT golfers have been named WGCA All-American Scholar selections with over 60 conference academic honorees who maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
Winning the American Academic Excellence Award in back-to-back seasons, women's golf joins women's swimming and diving (2023-24) and men's outdoor track and field (2023-24) as the only three Mean Green programs to win the award.
The American's Academic Excellence Award is given to the team with the highest GPA in the conference for its respective sport.
"I am very proud of our ladies to be recognized for the top GPA in the American Conference again," head coach Michael Akers said. "Most of our student-athletes want to play pro golf but they understand the importance of academics, and they put in the time to excel. It is very important to be well rounded because, at any given time, an athletic career can end."
"Academic excellence has transcended over a period of years now in our program. Obviously, it is important to me and I talk about it, but I believe the student-athletes are focusing on it and teaching the newcomers our expectations."
The Mean Green compiled a 3.89 cumulative grade point average in 2025-26 and has posted a 3.80 or higher GPA for each of the past five semesters, including the highest mark for the 2026 spring semester across all programs at North Texas at a 3.876.
In 10 seasons under Akers, 45 UNT golfers have been named WGCA All-American Scholar selections with over 60 conference academic honorees who maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
Winning the American Academic Excellence Award in back-to-back seasons, women's golf joins women's swimming and diving (2023-24) and men's outdoor track and field (2023-24) as the only three Mean Green programs to win the award.
Friday, November 04
Friday, July 08