Millikin Athletics

Sam Osborne '10 will enter his 16th season leading the Millikin University Golf programs in the fall of 2026. Osborne, who also serves as an Assistant Athletic Director, was named the Head Men's Golf Coach in August of 2011, and was elevated to Director of Golf in May of 2016.

In his 15 completed seasons with Big Blue Golf, Osborne has coached 26 All-CCIW selections (25 men, one woman) and three CCIW men's individual champions. He has been named the CCIW Men's Golf Coach of the Year on one occasion.

In 2025-26, the Millikin men finished 3rd at the CCIW Championships, Jack Bollinger and Jake Krstulovich were named All-CCIW. The Big Blue women finished in 5th place.

Since 2020-21, the Big Blue men have remained as a CCIW force, finishing in the top four every season, and collecting two runner-up finishes. Millikin has also seen eight more All-CCIW recognitions. The women have continued to build momentum, with the Big Blue notching their highest CCIW finish since 2009 with a 3rd place mark at the 2022 CCIW Championship. Taylor Chase was also named All-CCIW in 2021, Millikin's first all-conference honoree on the women's side since the 2013 season.

Starting in the 2016-17 season, Osborne took over direction of both the men's and women's programs. The Big Blue men continued to post solid performances, notching two more team podium finishes, and four more All-CCIW selections prior to a COVID canceled 2020 CCIW Championships. On the women's side, Osborne led a quick turnaround, as Millikin moved from an 8th place finish in his first season, to the top half of the conference by year three.

In his first two seasons leading the men's side, Osborne coached Wes Hillen to 2012 and 2013 CCIW Championship medalist honors. Millikin had a individual placer in the top two in each of Osborne's first five seasons, culminating with Blaine Buente winning medalist honors at the 2016 CCIW Championships. Millikin had 11 All-CCIW honorees, and didn't finish outside the top three in the CCIW during this span.

Prior to leading the Millikin golf programs, Osborne was an assistant with the men's team during the 2010-11 season. He helped to guide the team to the 2011 CCIW Championship, and a 14th place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships.

Osborne earned his Bachelor's of Science in Biology from Millikin 2010, going on to earn his Master's in Business Administration in 2014. As a Big Blue student-athlete, Osborne was a four-year letterwinner for the men's golf program, serving for two seasons as a team captain. As a senior, he carried an 18-hole average of 77, and won the McNaughton Memorial at Illinois College with three-under 69.

He is TPI Level 1 Certified, has served on NCAA Regional Advisory Committees for both men's and women's golf, and is a member of the Golf Coaches Association of America and the Women's Golf Coaches Association.

Outside of Millikin, Osborne remains active on the amateur golf circuit. He is a two-time winner of the Decatur City Amateur Championship, and a two-time qualifier for the Illinois Mid-Amateur Championships.

A native of Decatur, Illinois, Sam resides in Monticello with his with Katie, and their dog Willie.