2023 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year Award presented by Golf Pride Grips Announced
NORMAN, Okla. – The six outstanding collegiate golf coaches receiving the 2023 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year Award presented by Golf Pride Grips were announced today by the GCAA. Golf Pride Grips will present the coaches with their awards during the Hall of Fame Banquet at the GCAA National Convention on December 4.
J.C. Deacon of Florida (Division I), David Lynn of Oklahoma Christian (Division II), Dan Rodgers of Carnegie Mellon (Division III), Chris MacDonald of British Columbia (NAIA), Michael Wetrich of Indian Hills (NJCAA Division I), and Darin Pint of Kirkwood (NJCAA Division II) earned coach of the year honors for 2023. Golf Pride Grips Region and District Coaches of the Year were also named.
Deacon led Florida to six victories this season, including their first SEC Championship in 12 years and their fifth NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship, and top-10 finishes in all 13 tournaments en route to earning his first-career SEC Coach of the Year honor. The Gators were led on the course by four PING All-Americans, including First-Teamer and NCAA Division I Arnold Palmer National Individual Champion Fred Biondi.
The three-time Lone Star Conference (LSC) Coach of the Year, Lynn led Oklahoma Christian to 12 top-five finishes, three victories, including the UC San Diego Invitational against multiple DI teams, and their second straight national runner-up finish this season. The Eagles were led on the course by three PING All-Region golfers, including the program’s first LSC Player of the Year Exequiel Rodriquez.
Rodgers led Carnegie Mellon to three victories, including the first NCAA championship in university history at the NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championship, and recorded top-six finishes in all 10 tournaments this season. The Tartans were led on the course by five PING All-Region golfers, including UAA Rookie of the Year David Zhang.
British Columbia won five times, including their second-ever NAIA Men’s Golf Championship, and recorded nine top-five finishes in 10 tournaments this season under MacDonald. The Thunderbirds were led on the course by two PING All-Region golfers, including top-20 national finishers Aiden Schumer and John Paul Kahlert.
Wetrich, in his first year at the helm, led Indian Hills to five victories, including their seventh NJCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship, and finished no worse than seventh in all 11 events this season. The Warriors were led on the course by two PING All-Americans and two PING All-Region golfers, including including First-Teamer and NJCAA Division I Arnold Palmer National Individual Champion Jose Miguel Ramirez.
Kirkwood won 10 times in 14 tournaments under Pint this season, including the program’s first NJCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Championship and The Verhille Invitational against an NAIA field. The Eagles were led on the course by two PING All-Americans and three PING All-Region golfers, including top-five national finisher and April NJCAA DII SwingU College Player of the Month Kolby Shackelford.
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For over seven decades, Golf Pride® has been the global leader in golf grip innovation and technology, from the invention of the slip-on grip to groundbreaking advancements in cord with their new Brushed Cotton Technology (BCT®) to the introduction of the hybrid category of grips. Today, Golf Pride® has laid claim to more major wins than any other grip company. More than 80% of Tour professionals choose to play their grips and not one is paid to do so. And in this age of multi-million dollar endorsement deals, that’s the strongest endorsement of all. Whether you’re a Tour pro playing a major, a rising amateur, or an everyday golfer, you can rest assured knowing you’re playing the #1 Grip in Golf. To learn more about Golf Pride®, go to golfpride.com.
2023 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year Award Presented by Golf Pride Grips
Division I - J.C. Deacon, Florida
Division II - David Lynn, Oklahoma Christian
Division III - Dan Rodgers, Carnegie Mellon
NAIA - Chris MacDonald, British Columbia
NJCAA Division I - Michael Wetrich, Indian Hills
NJCAA Division II - Darin Pint, Kirkwood
2023 Golf Pride Grips Region and District Coaches of the Year
Division I
Northeast - Rob Shutte, Rutgers
East - Bruce Heppler, Georgia Tech
Southeast - J.C. Deacon, Florida
Midwest - Mike Small, Illinois
Central - Ryan Hybl, Oklahoma
West - Matt Thurmond, Arizona State
Division II
East - Stephen Ferrara, St. Thomas Aquinas
Atlantic - David Woodrum, Davis & Elkins
Southeast - Bryson Worley, North Georgia
South - Joey Marino, Nova Southeastern
Midwest - Gary Bissell, Grand Valley State
Central - Dustin Howell, Harding
South Central - David Lynn, Oklahoma Christian
West - Nick Green, Chico State
Division III
Region 1 - Jeff Page, Babson
Region 2 - Evan Drew, RPI
Region 3 - Andy Tompos, Franklin & Marshall
Region 4 - John Sjoberg, Emory
Region 5 - Dan Rodgers, Carnegie Mellon
Region 6 - Bob Alpers, Saint John’s (MN)
Region 7 - Mitchell Fedorka, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
NAIA
Midwest - Eric Wyrick, Lindsey Wilson
South - Brandon Miller, Keiser
Central - Rob Brown, Bellevue
West - Chris MacDonald, British Columbia
NJCAA Division I
Southeast - Sylas Elliott, Wallace State
Central - Chris Young, Hutchinson
South Central - Jay Rees, New Mexico JC
West - Tyler Loop, McCook
NJCAA Division II
East - Brad Hawkins, Walters State
Central - Corbin Sebens, Parkland
West - Darin Pint, Kirkwood