Jul 3, 2026 8:00 PM
SMU senior Will Sides became the Mustangs’ first ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year after a monster season on the course and in the classroom.
SMU men’s golf didn’t just get a trophy-case season from Will Sides, it got a history-making one.
Sides, a senior from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was named the 2026 ACC Rod Myers Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Mustang in any sport to earn an ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor since SMU joined the conference in 2024.
That’s a serious statement for a program still carving out its place in a loaded league. And Sides didn’t win it by leaning on one side of the resume. He delivered everywhere.
In the classroom, Sides finished with a 3.79 GPA while earning his degree in accounting.
On the course, he played like one of the best golfers in the country. He posted a 68.4 adjusted scoring average, played 35 rounds and finished with 28 rounds at par or better.
Sides won three tournaments, added four top-three finishes, placed fourth at the ACC Championship and finished 16th at NCAA Regionals.
He also earned his first career All-America honor, becoming the 23rd Mustang ever to do it and the first SMU golfer to land All-America status since 2021.
His all-conference resume is just as loud.
Sides picked up his second All-ACC honor and fourth all-conference selection overall, joining Kelly Kraft as the only SMU men’s golfers to pull off that feat.
Even after wrapping up his college career, Sides kept swinging hot. He finished tied for 10th at the Memorial Health Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour, a strong early glimpse at what could be next.
Freshman Ben Steinmann also gave SMU another academic win, earning All-ACC Academic Team honors after posting a 71 adjusted scoring average and a 3.10 GPA.
For SMU, this wasn’t just an award. It was proof the Mustangs already belong in the ACC golf conversation.
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