NAIA Finalists Named for Dave Williams Award presented by Golf Pride Grips

NORMAN, Okla. – NAIA finalists for the Dave Williams National Coach of the Year Award presented by Golf Pride Grips have been announced by the GCAA. The Williams Award honors the national coach of the year in NAIA men’s golf.

The five finalists are Kyle Blaser of Oklahoma City, Bobby Cornett of Texas Wesleyan, Wayland Baptist’s Tom Harp, Brandon Miller of Keiser, and Dalton State’s Ben Rickett. If a team wins the NAIA Championship and its coach was not previously named a finalist for the Dave Williams Award that coach will be added for coach of the year consideration.

An eight-time recipient of the Williams Award and GCAA Hall of Fame member, Blaser led Oklahoma City to six outright tournament victories and tied for medalist honors in another. The Stars were runner-up in their other two events. Blaser was also named Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

A member of the GCAA Hall of Fame, Cornett and Texas Wesleyan won our tied for first in four events. The Rams were runner-up in three events and third in their remaining two events. Texas Wesleyan finished the regular season ranked second in the Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll.

Wayland Baptist won both the Claude Jacobs Invitational and Arbor Hotels Classic. Additionally, the Pioneers finished runner-up four times and third thrice. Under Harp’s leadership Wayland Baptist finished the regular season ranked fourth in the Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll.

Miller led Keiser to three tournament victories on the season. The Seahawks also posted three runner-up finishes and were outside the top five only twice in 13 events. Keiser ranked fifth in the final regular season Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll.

Dalton State captured five tournament victories and tied for first in another. The Roadrunners only finish outdside the top three in 10 events was at the Division I Carpet Capital Collegiate. Rickett was previously named Southern State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.