Coaching Staff
Jim Kelson Head Coach, 13th Season
JIM KELSON KEEPS SETTING new and better benchmarks for the Tennessee golf program. In three of the last four years and four of the last six, the Vols have captured multiple tournament titles. Included was the 2007 SEC Championship, Tennessee’s first league crown in 17 years.
2007 SEC Coach of the year Birthdate Aug. 8, 1963; Minneapolis
2010-2011
High School Lamar High School, Arlington, Texas College Alabama, 1987 (B.S.) Florida, 1992 (M.S.) College Career Oklahoma and Alabama, 1983-87 Playing Highlight Oklahoma Amateur champion, 1983 Coaching Career Florida, assistant coach, 1988-92 Augusta State, head coach, 1992-98 Tennessee, head coach, 1998-present. Wife Jinger Kelson
10 • Tennessee Volunteers Golf
And Kelson guided UT to consecutive NCAA Championship berths over the last two seasons – a first for the Vols since they went to three straight (1995-97) during the Tiger Woods collegiate era of the mid-1990s. It was Tennessee’s fifth NCAA Championship berth under Kelson since 2003. The Vols also advanced to regional play for a school-record 11th consecutive season. But Kelson doesn’t appear to be settling for simply making an appearance. “Obviously, it was a big goal to get to the NCAA Championship,” Kelson said. “I’m proud of our efforts and the kids did a good job last year. Now, we’ve just got to keep getting better to jump up into that next level of teams that content and compete.” Kelson’s charges in the fall of 2010 captured the prestigious Carpet Capital Collegiate for the first time in school history and the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate in a scorecard playoff. The Vols were a topfive finisher in seven of last season’s 12 tournaments and earned a No. 4 seed at the NCAA San Diego Regional, where they tied for third to advance to the NCAA Championship round in Ooltewah. Kelson was hired in June 1998 has been building this program from the day he arrived on campus. The Vols have won 15 tournament championships in his 12-plus seasons. Five different campaigns produced multiple tourney titles -- 2001-02 (three), 2004-05 (three), 2006-07 (two), 2007-08 (two) and 2009-10 (two). UT also claimed hardware under Kelson in the 1998-99, 2000-01 and 2005-06 seasons. One of the highlights was capturing the 2007 SEC Championship, Tennessee’s first league crown in 17 years. At the event, UT finished with three players in the top-10, including two tied for second. “The coaches were very proud of that team. We set this goal at the beginning of that year and worked hard at achieving it,” Kelson said. “They paid the price to be successful and they deserved to win that
championship. Their efforts, desire and their great team chemistry were a big part of our win.” Tennessee’s SEC victory that year by two strokes over Alabama led to a plethora of well-deserved postseason awards. Kelson was honored with his first SEC Coach of the Year award, Philip Pettitt earned All-SEC first team honors, while Charlie Ford and Chris Paisley were named to the All-SEC second team. Kelson’s first tournament championship as Vols head coach came in that first fall of 1998 at the Crown Classic in Lufkin, Texas. It was UT’s first title since 1996. Under Kelson’s instruction, six golfers posted collegiate bests and he also led sophomore Matt McWilliams and freshman Andrew Black to individual crowns. Those victories were the Vols’ first since 1996. Kelson’s guidance continues to produce individual awards for his student-athletes both on and off the course. Five members of the 2009-10 roster – James Brannen, David Holmes, Cameron Lawrence, Darren Renwick and Justin Walker – made Academic All-SEC. Holmes also was an All-SEC second-team honoree, joining Robin Wingardh on that squad, and Jay Vandeventer received Freshman All-SEC recognition. Two more Vols earned All-America certificates under Kelson in 2008-09, with Chris Paisley and David Holmes being named to the Ping honorable mention squad. Kelson coached David Skinns, Ross McGowan and Charlie Ford to previous All-America accolades. Paisley earned a European spot on the most recent Walker Cup team that played at Pennsylvania’s Merion Country Club, and joined teammate Wingardh on the victorious Palmer Cup squad that competed at Cherry Hills Country Club outside Denver. Kelson, 47, hails from Dallas and graduated in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama. He earned his master’s in exercise and sports science from the University of Florida in 1992. Kelson’s first head coach assignment was leading Augusta State’s
Head Coach Jim Kelson
• Cleveland Golf-ASU Invitational • Old Dominion Seascape
1994-95
• Gunby Jordan Intercollegiate
1995-96
• Nevada-Reno Wolfpack Classic
1996-97
• The Matlock Classic
1997-98
• Nicholson/Woodlands Intercollegiate • The Adams Cup of Newport • The Gator Invitational • The Cleveland Golf-ASU Invitational • The Wofford Intercollegiate
TENNESSEE
(13 tournament championships)
1998-99
• The Crown Classic Champions • The Adams Cup of Newport Third place • The Seminole Classic Third place • The Coca-Cola T.O.C. Fourth place
1999-2000
• Cavalier Classic Third place • The Coca-Cola T.O.C. Third place
2001-02
• The Coca-Cola T.O.C. Champions • Carpet Capital Collegiate Second place • Rice Intercollegiate Champions • Mercedes Benz Collegiate Champ. Second place • Augusta State Invitational Champions
2002-03
• The Coca-Cola T.O.C. Second place • Turtle Bay Intercollegiate Second place • NCAA East Regional Fourth place
2003-04
• Landfall Tradition Third place • The Coca-Cola T.O.C. Third place
2004-05
• Bank of Tennessee at The Ridges Champions • The Coca-Cola T.O.C. Champions • Ashworth Collegiate Invitational Champions • Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational Third place • NCAA East Regional Second place
2005-06
• The Coca-Cola T.O.C. Champions • Shoal Creek Invitational Second place
2006-07
• Shoal Creek Invitational Second place • Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate Champions • Ping Arizona Intercollegiate Fourth place • USC Collegiate Invitational Third place • SEC Championships Champions
2007-08
• Turtle Bay Intercollegiate Champions • PING/Arizona Intercollegiate Champions • John Hayt Collegiate Invitational Third place • USC Collegiate Inivtational Second place • Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational Fourth place
2008-09
hIstory
1993-94
Jim Kelson has guided Tennessee to a school-record 11 consecutive NCAA tournaments.
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• C&S Pacer Invitational
• Louisiana Classics Intercollegiate Champions • Beau Rivage Collegiate Classic Second place • The Coca-Cola T.O.C Third place
volunteers
1992-93
2000-01
CoaChes
(11 tournament championships)
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AUGUSTA STATE
tennessee
Top Five Results
Intro
only Division I sport. He guided the Jaguars to four appearances in the NCAA Championship from 1993-96 and five appearances in the NCAA regionals. His teams had 32 top-five finishes in 57 regular-season tournaments. Under Kelson’s leadership, the Jaguars won at least one team championship every year he coached at Augusta State. The Jaguars captured 11 tournaments during his seven years as coach -- including a remarkable five during his final ASU season of 1997-98. Kelson was named NCAA Division I North Coach of the Year in 1993. Prior to Augusta State, Kelson served as the assistant coach at Florida under former U.S. Amateur champion Buddy Alexander. Kelson helped recruit several of the golfers who helped the Gators finish runner-up at the 1993 NCAA Championships. “Working under Buddy Alexander was an invaluable experience for me,” Kelson said. “Buddy is regarded nationally as one of the finest coaches in collegiate golf, and his ability to relate to his players in a positive manner is something I always try to emulate.” Along with Alexander, Kelson also has worked with some of the most highly regarded teaching professionals in the world, including Conrad Rehling, Eddie Merrins, Bob Toski, Wally Armstrong, Chuck Cooke, Denis Pugh, Ernie Vaderson and Michael Shannon. Kelson spent a year on the mini-tour in the Orlando area before assuming his position at Florida. He served as Alexander’s assistant for three years before accepting the head coaching position at ASU. Kelson also served as assistant athletics director for compliance while at Augusta State. Along with Kelson’s studies at Alabama, he made time to compete on the links for the Crimson Tide for 2½ years. He transferred to Alabama after his sophomore year from Oklahoma, where he was a member of the strong Sooner program that competed in the 1983 NCAA Championship. His achievements on the course include winning the 1983 Oklahoma State Amateur and a third-place finish at the 1987 Bermuda Amateur, in addition to participating in the 1982 U.S. Amateur. Kelson lives in Knoxville with his wife, the former Jinger Fry of Arlington, Texas.
• Carpet Capital Collegiate Second place • Ping/Golfweek Preview Invitational Second place • Wolf Pack Classic Third place • Arizona Invitational Third place • John Hayt Collegiate Invitational Fifth place • Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational Second place • NCAA Northeast Regional Second place
2009-10
• Carpet Capital Collegiate Champions • Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate Champions • UNCG Bridgestone Golf Collegiate Fifth place • John Hayt Collegiate Invitational Fifth place • Schenkel E-Z-Go Invitational Fifth place • Administaff Armstrong State Invitational Fifth place • NCAA San Diego Regional Third place
2010-11
• Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate Fifth place
Tennessee Volunteers Golf • 11
Casey VanDamme Director of Instruction
CASEy VanDAMME joined Tennessee’s coaching staff one year ago and made an immediate impact. The Vols won two fall tournaments for the first time in five years and went on to the program’s first backto-back trips to the NCAA Championship since the mid-1990s.
Birthdate Aug. 3, 1977; Escanaba, Mich. High School Mid Peninsula High School, Rock, Mich.
2010-2011
College Northern Michigan University 2000 College Career Marquette 1995-96 Northern Michigan, 1996-2000 Wife Jill Gobert VanDamme Children Madelyn, 3 Claire, 2
12 • Tennessee Volunteers Golf
VanDamme took over as assistant coach for the Vols after learning the trade under renowned golf instructor Jim McLean. VanDamme spent seven years at the Jim McLean Golf School in both Palm Springs, Calif., and Traverse City, Mich., becoming the youngest Master Instructor in school history. “Casey joined our staff as a very accomplished professional golf instructor,” UT head coach Jim Kelson said. “Teaching and instruction have been focal points in our program for several years. These two components are really at the core of our program here at Tennessee.” VanDamme’s teaching experience included working with some of the finest players on the PGA Tour, and he was an on-site teaching professional to a participant in the 2009 PGA Championship. “I was extremely impressed with Casey’s knowledge of the game and his keen understanding and expertise as a teacher of golf,” Kelson said. “He is one of those special instructors that can identify a player’s tendencies and then prioritize and simplify the instructional changes. He possesses a very thorough and complex understanding of the mechanics of a golf swing, but his methods of teaching and development are condensed and simplified for his students. “This unique ability ideally qualifies Casey to be a member of our staff.” VanDamme brought a dozen years of golf instruction to the Vols. In his UT debut season, VanDamme coached three golfers to postseason SEC honors. David Holmes and Robin Wingardh were named to the All-SEC second team, while Jay Vandeventer was a Freshman All-SEC selection. VanDamme debuted as a collegiate golfer at Marquette before finishing at Northern Michigan, where he graduated in 2000. He began his tenure under Jim McLean in 1998 while still playing for the Wildcats. He also played professionally on the NGA Hooters Tour from 2003-04. VanDamme has spent the last three years as athletics director at Mid Casey VanDamme Peninsula High School in Rock, Mich., while spending summers since 2005 with the CVD Golf Academy in Gladstone, Mich. He also served in 2008 as head golf professional at LochenHeath Golf Club in Traverse City. “We were very pleased that Casey VanDamme decided to join us,” Kelson said. “Our players and our program certainly are benefiting from his expertise.” VanDamme and his wife, the former Jill Gobert, both are natives of Escanaba, Mich. They live in Knoxville with their daughters, Madelyn, 4, and Claire, 3.
Support Staff Intro
Randy Wylie Volunteer Assistant Coach
hIstory
ment each other.” Established in 1992, the UT mental training program’s mission is to provide Tennessee student-athletes and coaches with a comprehensive program for the development of competitive mental skills. Using the latest advances in sport psychology and centering on performance enhancement, the program offers a broad range of services aimed at helping student-athletes maximize their full mental and emotional management, competition planning, time management and visualization instruction. “Mental training anticipates the mental challenges of actual competition-- what we call the ‘mental moments,’” Wrisberg says. “It helps the athletes develop and rehearse proper responses to those moments.” Whitney and his wife, Laura, have one daughter, Samantha.
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Joe Whitney is in his 12th year at Tennessee and heads the mental training program for the men’s golf team. Whitney received his bachelor’s of science degree from Springfield College (Mass.) in 1992 before earning his master’s degree from the University of Virginia in 1997. He received his Ph.D. in sports psychology from Tennessee in 2000. Whitney is a protege of Dr. Craig Wrisberg, who worked with UT athletes beginning in 1977 and is responsible for creating one of America’s first mental training programs for college athletes. “Our work in mental training has been a great incubator for sports psychology research. In turn, we use the results of our research to provide the best mental training help possible for our athletes and coaches,” Wrisberg says. “They [research and consultation] comple-
volunteers
Mental Training Director
CoaChes
Dr. Joe Whitney
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volunteer assistant.” A 2008 inductee to the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame, Wylie won the 1984 Greater Knoxville Amateur and then played professionally for nine years. He was a member of the 1997 and 1998 Asian Golf Tour and made the cut in two U.S. Opens -- 1990 at Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago, and 1997 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. Wylie’s father, Holston Hills Country Club Director John Wylie, entered the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. That made 2008 honor for Randy Wylie much more special. “We have been close forever,” Wylie said. “We’re like best friends. I just knew how excited and happy he was going to be (when he heard the news). That made me even happier.” Wylie graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in finance after being awarded All-Southwest Conference honors for his college golf successes. He is married to Jennifer Schneider Wylie, a senior sales executive for WIVK Radio in Knoxville.
tennessee
Tennessee volunteer assistant coach Randy Wylie was Tennessee’s Professional Golfers Association of America Section Teacher of the Year for 2010, as voted by the PGA membership throughout the state. Already the Knoxville area’s PGA Teacher of the Year for a second straight season and the third time since 2004, Wylie found himself in the running for national teacher honors. “The award is especially meaningful to me because it is given by a vote of my peers,” said Wylie, an instructor at Knoxville’s Fairways and Greens Golf Center. “I’m very honored to receive the award and certainly enjoy what I can do to promote the game I love.” Wylie has been named a Golf Digest “Best Teacher in Tennessee” for eight years running (2003-10). He began working with the Vols during two seasons (2000-01) spent as UT head coach Jim Kelson’s assistant. “It is very unusual that an instructor receives this award in consecutive years, and this speaks volumes to his level of expertise,” Kelson said. “Randy has played a huge role in our program’s development over the past 11 seasons. We are very fortunate to have such a skilled
Jorge Roman Graduate Assistant Jorge Roman is in his first full season as a graduate assistant for the Tennessee men’s golf program. Roman serves the team in a wide range of areas, assisting with practice set-up, statistical analysis, equipment and clothing needs for both the coaches and student-athletes. “This is one of the best opportunities I’ve ever gotten,” Roman says. “Just to be here with Coach Kelson, learning about his leadership methods and watching him run an organization has been great. I want to help our team win a national championship, so I take care of all the little things.” The Reading, Pa., native graduated from the University of South Florida in 2006 with a degree in psychology. After finishing graduate school here at UT with a degree in sport psychology, Roman plans to pursue his Ph.D. specializing in sport psychology. “I really respect positive people who are role models,” Roman says. “This coaching staff is very charismatic. They offer a lot to the players and I feed off their energy. Being able to contribute to this team in any way is a big deal for me.”
Mark Gossett
Dan Hamilton
Chad Newman
Nancy Cowan
Golf Facility Superintendent
Associate Athletic Trainer
Strength and Conditioning
Administrative Assistant
Tennessee Volunteers Golf • 13
Administration Dr. Jimmy Cheek Chancellor
Mike and Beth Hamilton, with Madison, Matthew, Natnael Edward, Kiya Isaiah and McKinley Kalu.
Mike Hamilton Director of Athletics
2010-2011
Appointed to the position of director of athletics in 2003, Mike Hamilton’s stewardship of the Tennessee brand continues to ascend to unprecedented new heights. While UT athletics shines brightly as a national standard of intercollegiate achievement, Hamilton has assured that the department’s impact reaches far beyond the fields of competition. In 2010-11, the benefits of Hamilton’s fiscal oversight took the form of $10.3 million in direct cash support to the general UT Knoxville campus—the largest such contribution by athletics in university history. The UT athletics department remains one only a handful of nationwide that receives no funds from state subsidies or taxes. Success on a national level has been a staple of Tennessee athletics, and under Hamilton’s watch, this trend has continued. The Vols have placed in the top 16 in the NACDA Director’s Cup six times in the last seven years, including two top-10 finishes. The competitive excellence exhibited by the Vols between the lines also has translated to the classroom, where in the spring of 2009, more than 51 percent of Tennessee’s student-athletes earned a GPA of 3.0 or better. Operating as the CEO of an organization with a $100-million-plus annual budget, Volunteer success during Hamilton’s watch has not been limited to the athletic and academic arenas, as fundraising success has also been remarkable. Donations to UT athletics totaled $4 million when he arrived on Rocky Top in 1992. By the time he assumed the director of athletics position in 2003, that total had increased nearly 500 percent ($19.5 million). And by 2010, athletics development fundraising efforts had risen to $43.4 million, which is more than double the total when Hamilton assumed his current post. Additional financial highlights of Hamilton’s tenure thus far include athletics endowments of $32 million, a multimedia rights partnership with IMG College worth a minimum of $133 million through 2022, two adidas sponsorship deals totaling more than $40 million and $230 million in new or renovated facilities since 2003. Hamilton is married to the former Elizabeth Merrill, also from Brevard. They are parents of three sons—Matthew, Nate and Kiya— and two daughters—Madison and Kalu.
14 • Tennessee Volunteers Golf
Dr. Jimmy G. Cheek became the seventh chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, on Feb. 1, 2009. Early in his tenure, Dr. Cheek worked closely with the university’s constituents to develop the strategic priorities for the campus, which he’s worked closely with others to advance. In response to a challenge from then Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, the chancellor set in motion the process to bring UT Knoxville into the ranks of the top 25 public research universities within 10 years. Dr. Cheek’s first year managing the Knoxville campus yielded positive momentum, despite unprecedented budget challenges. The 2009 freshman class was the most diverse in the institution’s history, and student access was enhanced through additional funding to institutional scholarships. The campus also has been recognized as a national leader in sustainable energy initiatives and cut more than $1 million in costs through energy saving policies and practices. Construction and renovations projects are currently underway to build a new Student Health Center, the Natalie Haslam School of Music Building and the Min Kao Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building. Prior to his appointment as chancellor, Dr. Cheek served at the University of Florida for 34 years, holding numerous administrative roles. He was senior vice president of agricultural and natural resources, dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, assistant dean of the College of Agriculture and assistant chair of his department. Dr. Cheek earned his bachelor’s degree with high honors and his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He received his master’s degree from Lamar University. A native of Texas, he is married to Ileen. They have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Brad Bertani Associate AD Compliance/Senior Golf Administrator Brad Bertani assumed the position of Associate Athletics Director for Compliance in February 2004. Bertani, 40, came to UT from Marshall, where he held the same position since January 2002. Prior to his Marshall employment, Bertani worked four years as an NCAA membership services representative. Bertani served as an athletics compliance and academic coordinator at Detroit from 1994-97, and before that as assistant to the compliance director at Ohio State. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Denison University in 1991 and played on the football team for four years. He then
completed a master’s in sports administration at Ohio University and his law degree at Capital University in 1994. Bertani oversees UT’s compliance program for all 20 men’s and women’s varsity sports. He also serves as sports administrator for the men’s golf program. In April 2006, Bertani was named one of the nine members serving on the NCAA Div. I Legislative Review and Interpretations Committee. He now serves as chair of that committee. Bertani is married to the former Gretchen Harris of Columbus, Ohio. They live in Knoxville with their three children: Lydia, 12, Joey, 8 and Lindsey, 6.