College Coaches

[leezer99]

Have there been a lot more moves in college golf coaches than in the past or am I just noticing it more now? 

 

The most interesting one to me is that both men's golf coaches at USC have left. They recently replaced the head coach with Mark Hankins from Mizzou but I'm wondering where the verbal commits stand at this point in the recruiting process. 

 

Just a few from the last couple of weeks taken from Golfweek.com College Job Blog:

 

July 6
INCARNATE WORD

The University of the Incarnate Word Athletics Department has named Thomas Kearney as the next head men’s golf coach.

 

July 6
KANSAS

Kansas head coach Jamie Bermel has announced the addition of Tony Blake to the men’s golf coaching staff.

 

July 3
COLUMBUS STATE

The Columbus State University Athletics Department announced the hiring of Lee McCoy as the Director of Golf. As the Director of Golf, McCoy will serve as the head coach of the men’s and women’s golf programs.

 

July 3
UCLA

UCLA head coach Armen Kirakossian named Mason Banger as his assistant coach.

 

July 3
HOUSTON CHRISTIAN

Former men’s golfer and assistant coach Jordan Jeffers is set to return to Houston Christian University, this time as the Huskies’ head women’s golf coach.

 

June 29
CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Summar Roachell, who is from Conway, Arkansas, has been named head women’s coach at the  University of Central Arkansas.

 

June 28
PENN STATE

Penn State has named Kristen Simpson as the head coach of the Penn State women’s golf team. Simpson replaces longtime coach Denise St. Pierre.

 

June 26
PENN STATE

Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft recently named former Nittany Lion golfer Mark Leon head coach. Leon returns to his alma after serving as the head coach at Florida Atlantic for the last two seasons.

 

 

 

 

[PostandGhost]

Don't forget about the SEC golden boy of recruiting at Vanderbilt, Gator Todd.  He recently left Vandy to take a head coaching gig.  I feel like he was attached to every head coaching rumor at a lot of the big schools for a while.  Probably more wishful thinking from the fan base than reality.  I'm still kinda shocked he left.

Edited July 11 by PostandGhost

[Tugu]

Coach Buck the assistant from Stanford moved to his alma mater TCU recently as well.

[leezer99]

Six more updates posted 7/11 (free slurpee day!).  I still can't get my head around what happens to the 'early' commits in these programs.

 

USC - already discussed.

 

July 11
WASHINGTON

Chris Babcock, who played his college golf at the University of Washington, will join the Washington staff as an assistant coach.

 

July 11
ARIZONA STATE

Arizona State head coach Missy Farr-Kaye has announced the hiring of Mikayla Tatman as the next assistant coach at Arizona State.

 

July 11
UC DAVIS

Bill Montigel will join the UC Davis men’s golf coaching staff under head coach Cy Williamns after a 36-year career as the head coach at TCU.

 

July 11
LONG BEACH STATE

Long Beach State golf coach Rob Murray is looking for an assistant coach. The 49ers have increased the salary in hopes of making the position more attractive.

 

July 11
PEPPERDINE

Pepperdine head golf coach, Laurie Gibbs, announced the hiring of Kacey Dalpes as the new assistant coach.

 

 

[iteachgolf]

Some of the moves were obvious 6+ months ago, but waited til season was over to announce.  There’s always been a good amount of movement in coaching, especially among assistants.  I know of a few more who weren’t listed who have changed schools, including SEC schools.  I usually warn kids not to choose a school based on a coach who’s only been there a few years, it’s different if a coach has been somewhere 15+ years, especially if they are doing a good job at a lesser/smaller program

[iteachgolf]

Also the allowance of a second assistant/third coach will cause some movement for big budget schools who can afford to pay a 3rd coach $80k+

[ChipNRun]

I hear it's fun to be a big-time golf head coach, especially when you get to deal with a player's hometown teaching pro.

 

• If the kid makes all-conference, it's because the hometown pro is a savant that knows all things golf.
• If the kid ends up second string, and hasn't shot close to par all season, it's because the school pro is messing him up.

[leezer99]

1 hour ago, ChipNRun said:

I hear it's fun to be a big-time golf head coach, especially when you get to deal with a player's hometown teaching pro.

 

• If the kid makes all-conference, it's because the hometown pro is a savant that knows all things golf.
• If the kid ends up second string, and hasn't shot close to par all season, it's because the school pro is messing him up.

I like how in both scenarios that the player gets no recognition. 

[iteachgolf]

15 hours ago, ChipNRun said:

I hear it's fun to be a big-time golf head coach, especially when you get to deal with a player's hometown teaching pro.

 

• If the kid makes all-conference, it's because the hometown pro is a savant that knows all things golf.
• If the kid ends up second string, and hasn't shot close to par all season, it's because the school pro is messing him up.

Also will add very very few coaches are pros and those are usually the ones smart enough to not mess with a kids swing.  College coaches aren’t experts in the golf swing (with maybe the exception of a handful) and stick to what they are good at.  I do believe a ton of them are good at helping kids manage themselves better both on and off the golf course.  

[ChipNRun]

54 minutes ago, iteachgolf said:

Also will add very very few coaches are pros and those are usually the ones smart enough to not mess with a kids swing.  College coaches aren’t experts in the golf swing (with maybe the exception of a handful) and stick to what they are good at.  I do believe a ton of them are good at "helping kids manage themselves better both on and off the golf course."

 

Good insight, must be the dominant vector in big-time college.

 

My last two teaching gigs were at NAIA and Div. 3 schools. In area NAIA schools, coaching slots were moving from legacy English and comp sci profs who like to play golf to area teaching pros. At one school, the head and assistant coach both were established instructors at local golf club. These two also spent a lot of time "helping kids manage themselves better both on and off the golf course."

 

At Div. III schools, a similar trend. At my last school: if a kid wanted help, the coach would step in. Otherwise, mainly help on strategy rather than swing, per se.