Wisconsin Player of the Year Finalists
Big Ten Directors of Athletics approved a recommendation of the sports information directors to establish a Big Ten Athlete of the Year named for Jesse Owens, Big Ten - Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year Award beginning in 1982. Indiana track performer Jim Spivey was the initial award winner.
In 1983, the Directors of Athletics approved a separate athlete of the year
award for women's athletics. In 1991-92, the women's award was renamed the Big Ten - Suzy Favor Athlete of the Year award as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of women's athletics in the Conference.
| 1982 | David Greenwood, football and track | |
| 1983 | Marc Behrend, hockey | Cathy Branta, track and cross country |
| 1984 | Al Toon, football and track | Cathy Branta, track and field |
| 1985 | Wayne Roby, trackand field | #Cathy Branta, track and field |
| 1986 | Tim Hacker, track and cross country | #Stephanie Herbst, track and cross country |
| 1987 | Nate Odomes, football and track | Suzy Favor, track and cross country |
| 1988 | Paul Gruber, football | #Suzy Favor, track and cross country |
| 1989 | Dave Lee, wrestling | #Suzy Favor, track and cross country |
| 1990 | Gary Shuchuk, ice hockey | #Suzy Favor, track and cross country |
| 1991 | Matt Demaray, wrestling | Lisa Boyd, volleyball |
| 1992 | Troy Vincent, football | Heather Taggart, soccer |
| 1993 | Donovan Bergstrom, track/cross country | Claire Eichner, track/cross country |
| 1994 | Brent Moss, football | Amy Wickus, track and cross country |
| 1995 | Jason Casiano, track and cross country | Amy Wickus, track and cross country |
| 1996 | Scott Lamphear, soccer | Kathy Butler, track and cross country |
| 1997 | Ron Dayne, football | #Kathy Butler, track |
| 1998 | Eric Jetton, wrestling | Angi Kujak, cross country/track and field |
| 1999 | Matt Downin, cross country/track and field | Jenelle Deatherage, cross country/track and field |
| 2000 | *Ron Dayne, football | Erica Palmer, cross country |
| 2001 | Don Pritzlaff, wrestling | Sherisa Livingston, volleyball |
| 2002 | Lee Evans, football | Lizzy Fitzgerald, volleyball |
| 2003 | Matt Tegenkamp, track & field/cross country | Carly Piper, swimming |
| 2004 | Devin Harris, basketball | Bethany Pendleton, swimming & diving |
| 2005 | Simon Bairu, cross country/track | Carly Piper, swimming |
| 2006 | Simon Bairu, cross country/track | Sara Bauer, ice hockey |
| 2007 | Alando Tucker, basketball | Sara Bauer, ice hockey |
| 2008 | Travis Beckum, football | Jolene Anderson, basketball |
* Big Ten Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year
# Big Ten Suzy Favor Athlete of the Year
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