The Big 12 Athlete of the Year Awards are selected based on athletic performance and good academic standing within the academic year of nomination and must be from a Conference-sponsored sport. Male and female honorees are selected by a media panel. Previously the Sportspersons of the Year, the Bob Bowlsby Award is named in honor of the former Big 12 Commissioner who served the Conference from 2012-22. It recognizes a male and female student-athlete annually who represents the absolute best in the Big 12 for their leadership and excellence, on and off the field of competition. Honorees are selected by the athletics directors.

Athletes of the Year
2024-25	NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech Softball (Female) Travis Hunter, Colorado Football (Male)
2023-24	Madisen Skinner, Texas Volleyball (Female) Jamal Shead, Houston Basketball (Male)
2022-23	Julien Alfred, Texas Track and Field (Female) Max Duggan, TCU Football (Male)
2021-22	Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma Softball (Female) Ochai Agbaji, Kansas Basketball (Male)
2020-21	Anastasia Webb, Oklahoma Gymnastics (Female) Jared Butler, Baylor Basketball (Male)
2019-20	Maggie Nichols, Oklahoma Gymnastics (Female) Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma Football (Male)
2018-19	Ashtin Zamzow, Texas Track & Field (Female) Kyler Murray, Oklahoma Football (Male)
2017-18	Maggie Nichols, Oklahoma Gymnastics (Female) Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma Football (Male)
2016-17	Kadeisha Buchanan, West Virginia Soccer (Female) Will Licon, Texas Swimming (Male) Frank Mason III, Kansas Basketball (Male)
2015-16	Paige Parker, Oklahoma Softball (Female) Buddy Hield, Oklahoma Basketball (Male)
2014-15	Lauren Chamberlain, Oklahoma Softball (Female) Tyler Lockett, Kansas State Football (Male)
2013-14	Odyssey Sims, Baylor Basketball (Female) Bryce Petty, Baylor Football (Male)
2012-13	Keilani Ricketts, Oklahoma Softball (Female) Collin Klein, Kansas State Football (Male)
2011-12	Brittney Griner, Baylor Basketball (Female) Robert Griffin III, Baylor Football (Male)
2010-11	Jessica Beard, Texas A&M Track and Field (Female) Taylor Jungmann, Texas Baseball (Male)
2009-10	Lisa Koll, Iowa State Cross Country and Track & Field (Female) Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska Football (Male)
2008-09	Destinee Hooker, Texas Track & Field and Volleyball (Female) Sam Bradford, Oklahoma Football (Male)
2007-08	Sarah Pavan, Nebraska Volleyball (Female) Chase Daniel, Missouri Football (Male)
2006-07	Sarah Pavan, Nebraska Volleyball (Female) Ben Askren, Missouri Wrestling (Male)
2005-06	Cat Osterman, Texas Softball (Female) Vince Young, Texas Football (Male)
2004-05	Cat Osterman, Texas Softball (Female) Derrick Johnson, Texas Football (Male)
2003-04	Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State Basketball (Female) Jason White, Oklahoma Football (Male)
2002-03	Cat Osterman, Texas Softball (Female) Nick Collison, Kansas Basketball (Male)
2001-02	Stacey Dales-Schuman, Oklahoma Basketball (Female) Cael Sanderson, Iowa State Wrestling (Male)
2000-01	Greichaly Cepero, Nebraska Volleyball/Basketball (Female) Josh Heupel, Oklahoma Football (Male)
1999-00	Erin Aldrich, Texas Volleyball/Track & Field (Female) Charles Howell, Oklahoma State Golf (Male)
1998-99	Suziann Reid, Texas Track (Female) Ricky Williams, Texas Football (Male)
1997-98	Vera Ilyina, Texas Diving (Female) Grant Wistrom, Nebraska Football (Male)
1996-97	Nanceen Perry, Texas Track (Female) Jacque Vaughn, Kansas Basketball (Male)
Bob Bowlsby Award* (Previously Sportspersons of the Year & Sportsmanship Awards)
2024-25	Meghan Hunter, BYU Track and Field (Female) Travis Hunter, Colorado Football (Male)
2023-24	Bella Folino, BYU Soccer (Female) David Carr, Iowa State Wrestling (Male)
2022-23	Ashley Joens, Iowa State Basketball (Female) Max Duggan, TCU Football (Male)
2021-22	Anna Dong, Texas Tech Women’s Golf (Female) Brock Purdy, Iowa State Football
2020-21	Alexandra Watson, Texas Rowing (Female) Jared Butler, Baylor Basketball (Male)
2019-20	Jaci Jones, Oklahoma State Soccer (Female) Andrew Jones, Texas Basketball (Male)
2018-19	Lauren Cox, Baylor Basketball (Female) Kansas State Rowing Team (Female) David Montgomery, Iowa State Football (Male)
2017-18	Paige Parker, Oklahoma Softball (Female)  Dalton Risner, Kansas State Football (Male)
2016-17	Bryce Perry, Oklahoma Cross Country/Track & Field (Female) Samaje Perine, Oklahoma Football (Male)
2015-16	Tayler Soucie, Kansas Volleyball (Female) Buddy Hield, Oklahoma Basketball (Male)
2014-15	Imani McGee-Stafford, Texas Basketball (Female) Clark Lammert, Texas Tech Basketball (Male)
2013-14	Whitney Canion, Baylor Softball (Female) Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma Football (Male)
2012-13	Whitney Pyle, Kansas State Golf (Female) Nate Boyer, Texas Football (Male)
2011-12	Kylie Doniak, Texas Soccer (Female) Robert Griffin III, Baylor Football (Male)
2010-11	Melissa Jones, Baylor Basketball (Female) Sam Acho, Texas Football (Male)
2008-09	Hollie Vise, Oklahoma Gymnastics (Female) Darrell Stuckey, Kansas Football (Male)
2008-09	Ashley Paris, Oklahoma Basketball (Female) Blake Griffin, Oklahoma Basketball (Male)
2007-08	Katie Martincich, Kansas Volleyball (Female) Mamadou Diene, Baylor Basketball (Male)
2006-07	Amanda Costner, Kansas Golf (Female) Carl Pendleton, Oklahoma Football (Male)
2005-06	Jodie Heinicka, Missouri Gymnastics (Female) Parker Dalton, Texas A&M Baseball (Male)
2004-05	Richelle Simpson, Nebraska Gymnastics (Female) Ahmard Hall, Texas Football (Male)
2003-04	Jessika Stratton, Baylor Basketball (Female) Mark Clayton, Lynn McGruder, Oklahoma Football (Male)
2002-03	Laura Pilakowski, Nebraska Volleyball (Female) Jeff Leise, Nebraska Baseball (Male)
2001-02	Natalie Ritchie, Texas Tech Basketball (Female) Cael Sanderson, Iowa State Wrestling (Male)
2000-01	Kim Woodlee, Kansas State Basketball (Female) Dan Alexander, Nebraska Football (Male)

*Named the Bob Bowlsby Award starting with the 2022-23 academic year.