# 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
| Year | Athlete(s) | School | Sport(s) |
| 1982 | Jim Spivey | Indiana | Track and field, cross country |
| 1983 | Ed Banach | Iowa | Wrestling |
| 1984 | Sunder Nix | Indiana | Track and field |
| 1985 | Barry Davis | Iowa | Wrestling |
| 1986 | Chuck Long | Iowa | Football |
| 1987 | Steve Alford | Indiana | Basketball |
| 1988 | Jim Abbott | Michigan | Baseball |
| 1989 | Glen Rice | Michigan | Basketball |
| 1990 | Anthony Thompson | Indiana | Football |
| 1991 | Mike Barrowman | Michigan | Swimming and diving |
| 1992 | Desmond Howard | Michigan | Football |
| 1993 | John Roethlisberger | Minnesota | Gymnastics |
| 1994 | Glenn Robinson | Purdue | Basketball |
| 1995 | Tom Dolan | Michigan | Swimming and diving |
| 1996 | Eddie George | Ohio State | Football |
| 1997 | Blaine Wilson | Ohio State | Gymnastics |
| 1998 | Charles Woodson | Michigan | Football |
| 1999 | Luke Donald | Northwestern | Golf |
| 2000 | Ron Dayne | Wisconsin | Football |
| 2001 | Ryan Miller | Michigan State | Ice hockey |
| 2002 | Jordan Leopold | Minnesota | Ice hockey |
| 2003 | Amer Delić | Illinois | Tennis |
| 2003 | Matt Lackey | Illinois | Wrestling |
| 2004 | Damion Hahn | Minnesota | Wrestling |
| 2005 | Luis Vargas | Penn State | Gymnastics |
| 2006 | Peter Vanderkaay | Michigan | Swimming and diving |
| 2007 | Cole Konrad | Minnesota | Wrestling |
| 2008 | Brent Metcalf | Iowa | Wrestling |
| 2009 | Jake Herbert | Northwestern | Wrestling |
| 2010 | Evan Turner | Ohio State | Basketball |
| 2011 | David Boudia | Purdue | Swimming and diving |
| 2012 | Draymond Green | Michigan State | Basketball |
| 2013 | Derek Drouin | Indiana | Track and field |
| 2014 | David Taylor | Penn State | Wrestling |
| 2015 | Logan Stieber | Ohio State | Wrestling |
| 2016 | Denzel Valentine | Michigan State | Basketball |
| 2017 | Kyle Snyder | Ohio State | Wrestling |
| 2018 | Kyle Snyder | Ohio State | Wrestling |
| 2019 | Bo Nickal | Penn State | Wrestling |
| 2020 | Chase Young | Ohio State | Football |
| 2021 | Luka Garza | Iowa | Basketball |
| 2022 | Gable Steveson | Minnesota | Wrestling |
| 2023 | Zach Edey | Purdue | Basketball |
| 2024 | Zach Edey | Purdue | Basketball |

### Female

| Year | Athlete(s) | School | Sport(s) |
| 1983 | Judi Brown | Michigan State | Track and field |
| 1984 | Lisa Ishikawa | Northwestern | Softball |
| 1985 | Cathy Branta | Wisconsin | Track and field / Cross country |
| 1986 | Stephanie Herbst | Wisconsin | Track and field / Cross country |
| 1987 | Jennifer Averill | Northwestern | Field hockey / Lacrosse |
| 1988 | Suzy Favor | Wisconsin | Track and field / Cross country |
| 1989 | Suzy Favor | Wisconsin | Track and field / Cross country |
| 1990 | Suzy Favor | Wisconsin | Track and field / Cross country |
| 1991 | Julie Farrell-Ovenhouse | Michigan State | Swimming and diving |
| 1991 | Joy Holmes | Purdue | Basketball |
| 1992 | MaChelle Joseph | Purdue | Basketball |
| 1993 | Lara Hooiveld | Michigan | Swimming and diving |
| 1994 | Kristy Gleason | Iowa | Field hockey |
| 1995 | Laura Davis | Ohio State | Volleyball |
| 1996 | Olga Kalinovskaya | Penn State | Fencing |
| 1997 | Gretchen Hegener | Minnesota | Swimming and diving |
| 1997 | Kathy Butler | Wisconsin | Track and field |
| 1998 | Sara Griffin | Michigan | Softball |
| 1999 | Stephanie White-McCarty | Purdue | Basketball |
| 2000 | Lauren Cacciamani | Penn State | Volleyball |
| 2001 | Katie Douglas | Purdue | Basketball |
| 2002 | Christie Welsh | Penn State | Soccer |
| 2003 | Perdita Felicien | Illinois | Track and field |
| 2004 | Kelly Mazzante | Penn State | Basketball |
| 2005 | Jennie Ritter | Michigan | Softball |
| 2006 | Tiffany Weimer | Penn State | Soccer |
| 2007 | Jessica Davenport | Ohio State | Basketball |
| 2008 | Hannah Nielsen | Northwestern | Lacrosse |
| 2009 | María Hernández | Purdue | Golf |
| 2010 | Megan Hodge | Penn State | Volleyball |
| 2011 | Shannon Smith | Northwestern | Lacrosse |
| 2012 | Christina Manning | Ohio State | Track and field |
| 2013 | Amanda Kessel | Minnesota | Ice hockey |
| 2014 | Dani Bunch | Purdue | Track and field |
| 2015 | Taylor Cummings | Maryland | Lacrosse |
| 2016 | Rachel Banham | Minnesota | Basketball |
| 2017 | Lilly King | Indiana | Swimming and diving |
| 2018 | Lilly King | Indiana | Swimming and diving |
| 2019 | Megan Gustafson | Iowa | Basketball |
| 2020 | Dana Rettke | Wisconsin | Volleyball |
| 2021 | Sarah Bacon | Minnesota | Swimming and diving |
| 2022 | Dana Rettke | Wisconsin | Volleyball |
| 2023 | Caitlin Clark | Iowa | Basketball |
| 2024 | Caitlin Clark | Iowa | Basketball |