Skip to main content

The Official Website of the Golf Coaches Association of America

 
   

JR

GCAA Hall of Fame

In 1980, the GCAA began inducting outstanding college golf coaches into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame. Since then, the hall has grown to include more than 160 members. To be selected to the Hall of Fame, a coach must be nominated by their peers and then selected by the GCAA Hall of Fame Committee. Selection criteria not only include a coach's record on the golf course, but also their contributions to the game, student-athletes, and school.

In January 2002, the late Karsten Solheim, founder of PING golf equipment and Karsten Manufacturing became the first non-coach to be accepted into the Hall of Fame. Solheim was honored posthumously with the inaugural GCAA Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to college golf and its student-athletes. Other honorees include Byron Nelson (2004), Arnold Palmer (2007), Jack Nicklaus (2008), Friends of Golf (2010), Jim Awtrey (2015), Jim Nantz (2016), and Jerry Rich (2019).

Until 2012, living members of the Hall of Fame were eligible to receive the GCAA's highest coaching honor, the Honor Award. The Honor Award was presented, in cooperation with the College Golf Foundation as an Associate Presenting Sponsor, to coaches who during their careers, competed at a high level and greatly impacted collegiate golf.


NameUniversity/CollegeYear Inducted
Marlin "Cricket" Musch
UTEP/Sun Bowl/PING/Gaylord Sports Management/Nike

2023

Grier Jones
Wichita State

2023

Josh Gregory
NC State/Augusta State/SMU

2023

Steve Card
Western Washington

2023

Chris Young
Hutchinson CC

2022

Bill Montigel
TCU

2022

David Lynn
Oklahoma Christian

2022

Mark Crabtree
Colorado State/Louisville

2022

Greg Sands
Texas Tech

2021

Jim Ott
Illinois Wesleyan

2021

Tom Ferris
John A. Logan College

2021

Tommy Snell
Mississippi Gulf Coast

2019

Dan Rogas
Lamar

2019

Bob Hooper
Delaware/Pennsylvania School of Dentistry/USGA

2019

Jerry Rich
Lifetime Achievement Award

2019

John Reis
USGA/NCAA Rules

2018

Mike Hagen
Indian Hills CC/Arkansas State

2018

Walter Bourne
Princeton
2018
Conrad Ray
Stanford

2017

Mark Laesch
Golfstat

2017

Steve Fell
West Florida

2017

Paul Chavez
Odessa

2017

Dr. Garland Allen
Gardner-Webb
2017
Dick Spybey
Alabama

2016

Mike Small
Illinois

2016

Jay Seawell
Augusta State/Alabama

2016

Tim Poe
Central Missouri

2016

Mike McGraw
Oklahoma State/Alabama/Baylor

2016

Vince Clark
McLennan CC

2016

Jim Nantz
Lifetime Achievement Award

2016

Sandy Terry
Lon Morris/Tyler JC

2015

Jimmy Stobs
Barry

2015

JT Higgins
Texas A&M

2015

Bruce Brockbank
Brigham Young
2015
Jim Awtrey
Lifetime Achievement Award
2015
Bill Gardner Jr.
Walters State CC

2014

O.D. Vincent
Washington/UCLA/Duke

2014

Whitey Skoog
Gustavus Adolphus

2014

Richard Poe
Missouri

2014

Tim Huet
TaylorMade-adidas

2014

Dr. Steve Condon
Jefferson Davis State JC/Huntingdon

2014

Thomas Trueblood
Michigan

2013

Guy Spears
Eaton/Golf Pride

2013

Jim Owen
Oglethorpe

2013

John Means
Colorado State/Army/Minnesota/UW-Eau Claire/Idaho

2013

Bud Marsee
Broward CC

2013

Dave Jennings
Central Alabama CC

2013

Bruce Heppler
Georgia Tech

2013

Harry Mussatto
Western Illinois

2012

Clyde Luther
USGA/VSGA

2012

Jerry Hrnciar
Cameron

2012

Barry Rodenhaver
Odessa/SMU/Collegiate Players Tour

2012

Chris Haack
Georgia

2012

John Fields
Texas/New Mexico

2012

J. Perry Cole
LSU

2012

Jimmy Russell
Odessa

2011

Vince Jarrett
Abilene Christian/Houston

2011

Ken Hyland
Malone

2011

Gary Hart
PING

2011

Prof. Arthur Boulet
Bryant
2011
Mike Wydra
UC San Diego

2011

Floyd Horgen
Brevard CC/Centenary CC

2010

Steve Desimone
California

2010

Bobby Cornett
Texas Wesleyan

2010

Michael Carlisle
South Carolina-Aiken

2010

Kyle Blaser
Oklahoma City
2010
Ron Balicki
Golfweek
2010
Bob Alpers
Saint John's (Minn.)
2010
Friends of Golf
Lifetime Achievement Award

2010

Ben Thompson
Yale

2009

Delnor Poss
Midland

2009

Steve Loy
Arizona State

2009

Ronnie Choate
Sam Houston State

2009

Devon Brouse
Purdue
2009
O.D. Bounds
Texas Wesleyan
2009
Maxie Boles
Central Alabama CC
2009
Randy Lein
Arizona State

2008

Jack Nicklaus
Lifetime Achievement Award

2008

Jack Jensen
Guilford

2007

Jay Hardwick
Virginia Tech

2007

Tom Drennan
Rhode Island

2007

Arnold Palmer
Lifetime Achievement Award

2007

Mike Watney
Fresno State

2006

Steve Conley
Methodist

2006

Willie Miller
Furman

2005

Gregg Grost
Lamar/Oklahoma

2005

Eddie Twiggs
Stanford

2004

Norman A. Sundstrom
Allegheny

2004

Mark Simpson
Colorado

2004

Puggy Blackmon
South Carolina
2004
Byron Nelson
Lifetime Achievement Award

2004

Fred Warren
East Tennessee State

2003

Larry Penley
Clemson

2003

Herb Page
Kent State

2003

Rick LaRose
Arizona

2002

Dwaine Knight
UNLV

2002

Buddy Hewitt
Murray State

2001

Tim Brown
Skidmore
2001
Buddy Alexander
Florida
2001
Karsten Solheim
Lifetime Achievement Award

2001

Richard Sykes
NC State

2000

Doug Gordin
Florida Southern

2000

Wally Goodwin
Stanford

2000

Mike Griffin
Auburn

1999

Earl Bagley
Columbus State
1999
Joe Feaganes
Marshall

1998

Dr. Sonny Dragoin
Auburn

1998

Jimmy Clayton
Texas

1998

Gene Miranda
Air Force

1997

Bob Ellis
Texas A&M

1997

Tom Brennan
Oswego State/Coastal Carolina
1997
John MacDonald
Temple

1996

George Jacobson
Salem State

1996

Robert Fitch
Indiana

1995

Rodger Cromer
Miami (Ohio)

1995

Earl Yestingsmeier
Ball State

1994

Dick Copas
Georgia

1993

Eddie Merrins
UCLA

1992

Lowell Lukas
Central Connecticut State

1992

Jim Hanny
Cal State-Stanislaus

1992

Charley Matlock
Florida Southern

1991

Ed Cottrell
West Chester

1991

Bill Brogden
Tulsa
1991
Bill Johnson
Dartmouth

1990

Bill Carson
Youngstown State

1990

Don Veller
Florida State

1989

Bill Cullum
Cal State - Northridge

1989

Jim Brown
Ohio State
1989
Bob Nye
Wooster

1988

Hal Morrison
East Carolina/East Tennessee State

1988

Bill Mann
Arizona State

1988

Joe Prisco
Providence

1987

Frank Cronin
Maryland

1987

Joe Boyle Jr.
Penn State
1987
Harvey Penick
Texas

1986

E.K. Patty
Middle Tennesse State

1986

Rod Myers
Ohio State/Duke

1986

Herb Wimberly
New Mexico State

1985

Rev. George Holderith
Notre Dame

1985

Bruce Fossum
Michigan State

1985

Herb Ferrill
North Texas State

1985

Karl Tucker
Brigham Young

1983

Andy McDonald
Southwest Missouri State

1983

Vic Kelley
UCLA

1983

George Hannon
Texas

1982

Dumpy Hagler
Duke

1982

Buster Bishop
Florida
1982
Jerry Vroom
San Jose State

1981

Howell Hollis
Georgia

1981

Jesse Haddock
Wake Forest

1981

Ed Donnelly
Vermont

1981

Stan Wood
Southern California

1980

Dave Williams
Houston

1980

Sam Voinoff
Purdue

1980

Frank Scott
San Diego State

1980

Conrad Rehling
Florida/Alabama

1980

Ted Payseur
Northwestern

1980

Dick McGuire
New Mexico

1980

Bob Kepler
Ohio State

1980

Labron Harris, Sr.
Oklahoma State

1980

Dr. Dick Gordin
Ohio Wesleyan

1980

Bud Finger
Stanford

1980

Fred Cobb
North Texas

1980

Les Bolstad
Minnesota
1980
Kermit Blosser
Ohio
1980