2016 WVU Golf Guide by Joe Swan

CREDITS Managing Editor Joe Swan Editor/Writer Ashley Bailey Page Layout/Design Laura Doolittle, Bob Slater, Provations Group Contributors Lisa Ammons, John Antonik, Grant Dovey, D.J. Jamiel, Nick Davidson, Shannon McNamara, Bryan Messerly, Michael Fragale, Charlie Healy, Mike Montoro, Amy Prunty, Cheryl Wire, Kristin Coldsnow, Samantha Strejeck, Amy Salvatore Contributing Photographers All-Pro Photography by Dale Sparks, Brian Persinger, Steve Prunty, Niesha Shafer, Erin Irwin, WVU Athletic Communications Archives, WVU Photo Services, Sean Covich© 2016 West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics West Virginia University is on probation until February 17, 2017, for violations involving impermissible telephone and text communications that occurred in a number of our athletics programs. Level II violations occurred in the following sports programs: women’s gymnastics, football, women’s basketball and women’s soccer. On a smaller scale, 10 other sport programs, including baseball, men’s basketball, women’s diving, women’s rowing, men’s soccer, men’s swimming, women’s tennis, women’s track and field, women’s volleyball, and men’s wrestling and programs, also engaged in impermissible text and telephone-related activity. The penalties prescribed in this case, which included recruiting communication restrictions, off-campus recruiting restrictions and the loss of a scholarship in the sport of football, were served in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years. Additional information can be found at the following link: http://www. ncaa.org/sites/default/files/West%20Virginia%20Public%20Inf%20Decision.pdf West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. The indicia depicted are registered trademarks of West Virginia University. © 2016 West Virginia University Intercollegiate Athletics Reproduction of any material appearing herein is prohibited without approval of the West Virginia University Intercollegiate Athletics.

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Contents

TABLE OF

Front Section

In the Spotlight �� 2 Big 12 �� 3 Courses �� 4 Indoor Facility �� 6 Strength & Conditioning �� 8 Athletic Training �� 10 Community Service �� 12 Student-Athlete Development �� 13 Campus Life �� 14 Mountaineer Excellence �� 16

Coaching Staff

Head Coach Sean Covich �� 19 Operations Assistant Michael Molinari �� 20 Support Staff �� 20

Season Preview

Season Outlook �� 34 Mountaineer Intercollegiate �� 36

Record Book

Scoring Records �� 38 All-Time Coaching Records �� 39 Series records vs. Opponents �� 42

West Virginia University

President E Gordon Gee �� Director of Athletics Shane Lyons �� Athletic Staff/Coaches �� Media Information �� WVU Facilities ��

44 45 46 47 48

Player Profiles

Team Roster �� 22 Player Profiles �� 23

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Spotlight IN THE

Choosing to become a Mountaineer student-athlete is special.

Without a professional sports team in the state, folks across the state and throughout the region love West Virginia University athletics. Mountaineers have the unique opportunity to represent themselves, their teammates and their university to news media, alumni, friends, family and the general public. Your interaction with these groups is also part of your educational process. If you take advantage of these opportunities, it can have a positive effect, not only on your career as a student-athlete at West Virginia, but also on your life after you have donned the Old Gold and Blue.

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Conference

BIG 12

The Big 12 celebrates its 20th year in 201516 as it continues to promote the strength and success of one of the nation’s premier athletic conferences under the direction of fourth-year commissioner Bob Bowlsby. TCU and West Virginia joined the league on July 1, 2012 and became the Big 12’s first additions since inception, joining Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech. With 10 members, the Big 12 remains as the only major conference in the nation to determine its champions in all sports directly on the field of play with a full roundrobin schedule. The Conference’s hard work ethic and strong values have translated to enormous success in its first 19 years. Since it began competition in 1996-97, the league can boast of 54 NCAA team titles and 587 individual national championships.

Through its first 19 years, the Big 12 has claimed a team national championship in 17 of the sports it sponsors. The Conference finished the BCS era ranked tied for second with seven appearances in the National Championship Game. League squads combined to lead the nation in women’s basketball attendance 15 consecutive years (2014-15 not yet available), and the Big 12 is the only conference to surpass the onemillion mark in season attendance – doing so six times. In men’s basketball, the league has had seven teams earn NCAA bids three times in the past six years and every coach has guided a team to the NCAA Tournament, including a nation’s-best six coaches that have led teams to the Final Four. During the last 11 years a total of 33 NCAA trophies have been hoisted by Big 12 institutions, with at least one national crown won in all but one year for the Conference, including 18 consecutive seasons.

The Big 12 and its member institutions are committed to a competitive environment where sportsmanship and fair play take center stage. Whether on the field, in the classroom, or within the community, the student-athletes, administrators, coaches and game officials of the Big 12 support the highest ideals in sportsmanship. After joining the Big 12 in 2012, West Virginia announced the re-introduction of men’s golf in 2013 following a 30-year hiatus of the sport. The Mountaineers will play their first varsity season in 2015-16 and will participate in the 2016 Big 12 Championship at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas, on April 29-May 1. If text is too long for space take out paragraph in red.

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Courses

MOUNTAINEER

West Virginia University Director of Athletics Oliver Luck announced in 2014 that the Mountaineer golf team would practice and compete at eight different home courses. Lakeview Golf Course, Mountainview Golf Course, The Links at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Mystic Rock, Nemacolin Golf Academy, Pete Dye Golf Club, The Pines Country Club and the Arnold Palmer Signature Course at Stonewall Resort will serve as WVU’s home courses. “WVU is blessed with many great golf courses in Morgantown and the surrounding area,” said coach Sean Covich. “We are very appreciative of the many golf courses who have welcomed Mountaineer golf at their course. Because of their support, we will be able to play and practice at some of the best facilities in the country which will help us train and recruit at a high level.” Located at nearby Cheat Lake, Lakeview Golf Course is a par-72, 6,760-yard course designed by James Harrison at the Lakeview Golf Resort. Selected as one of the Top 100 public courses in the U.S., Lakeview boasts a four-star rating by Golf Digest and a pair of signature holes. The first is the 564-yard seventh hole that features a 180-foot vertical drop from tee to green, while the par-5, 620-yard 18th hole features a green that has never been reached in two. Also at Lakeview Golf Resort, the par-72, 6,447-yard Mountainview Course was designed in 1985 by Bryan Ault.

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Situated at the foot of the Allegheny Mountains, its challenging design received a three-and-a-half star rating by Golf Digest. The Links at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is a par-70, 6,658-yard course known for its challenging greens. Both water and rocks come into play on the first of three locations the Mountaineers will see at the resort. A Pete Dye design, Mystic Rock has received a number of accolades and was rated by Golf Week as the No. 1 Public Course in Pennsylvania and No. 2 Best Course You Can Play in Pennsylvania. Golf Digest considers it the No. 14 Public Course in Pennsylvania, No. 58 on America’s 100 Best Resort Golf Courses and No. 75 on America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses. Mystic Rock is a 7,526-yard, par-72 with a slope of 149 and rating of 77. It was previously the home of the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic. In addition to The Links and Mystic Rock, the Mountaineers will also use the resort’s Nemacolin Golf Academy, a practice facility featuring instruction and club fitting among other things. The academy boasts the TrackMan Golf Radar Solution, a diagnostic tool that measures every aspect of the swing in order to improve a player’s game. “Nemacolin Golf Academy provides us with a world-class practice facility which includes indoor hitting bays, large putting greens, a short game area, and a double-ended driving range,” said Covich. “We will be able to simulate any situation we need to practice thanks to this facility.” Located in Bridgeport, West Virginia, the Pete Dye Golf Club is a par-72, 7,353-yard course that spans 250 acres located in the Appalachian Mountains. Built upon a former coal mine, the course ranks ninth on the GolfWeek list of Best Modern Courses and is No. 46 on Golf Digest’s ranking of

America’s 100 Greatest Modern Courses. It has previously been honored as a “Hidden Gem” by Golf Magazine while it’s par-4, 435-yard second hole was rated one of the top-500 golf holes in the world by the publication. The club hosted the Nationwide Tour Players Cup from 2004-09 and featured winners such as D.A. Points and Jimmy Walker. The Pines Country Club in Morgantown will be a local practice and competition course for the Mountaineers. Boasting a 6,700-yard layout, the par-71 course has hosted numerous LPGA and WVGA Championship events. Its location less than six miles from campus will make it a crucial part of WVU’s practice regiment. The Arnold Palmer Signature Course at the Stonewall Jackson Resort in Roanoke, West Virginia, rounds out the list of home courses for the Mountaineers. The course has received numerous accolades from golf publications, and ranks No. 57 on Golfweek’s 2014 Top Resort Courses, No. 72 on the 2013 Top Resort Courses and No. 2 on 2011 and 2012 Best You Can Play in West Virginia. It has previously been ranked as one of Golf Magazine’s Best Courses to Play in West Virginia and is among America’s Best Top Resort Courses as chosen by Golf Digest. It is a par-72, 7,149-yard course from the Palmer tees that is surrounded by wetlands, hills and Stonewall Jackson Lake. “Sean Covich has done an excellent job of recruiting and organizing, in this transition year, to get our golf program ready for its official start in July,” said Luck. “While we don’t have a home course on campus, these eight golf courses will provide a great practice center and a different challenge at each one. The reintroduction of our men’s golf team has created a lot of excitement for our department, and the Mountaineers will have no shortages of options when it comes to preparation in the area.”

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Facilities INDOOR

In 2015, the West Virginia golf team converted a former dance studio in the WVU Coliseum into an indoor practice facility. The 2,000-square foot space boasts a putting green with areas for chipping. It even features different turf textures to replicate the varieties of grass found on golf courses. Most impressive is the Trackman Golf Simulator. The simulator analyzes golfersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; shots while allowing them to virtually play a number of courses across the world. The Trackman offers shot analysis and potential, allowing the Mountaineers to work on their game no matter the time day or weather conditions in Morgantown.

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STRENGTH AND

Conditioning

Brian Whiting returns for his fifth season as the strength and conditioning coach for the Mountaineer women’s basketball team. In addition to women’s basketball, Whiting handles the strength and conditioning responsibilities for the Mountaineer tennis team. Prior to arriving at West Virginia, Whiting spent three years on the Michigan State strength and conditioning staff where he worked his way from an intern to a graduate assistant. There, he assisted in the design and implementation of sport specific training programs for men’s and women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey, baseball and wrestling, as well as other varsity sport teams. He was part of the kinesiology department at Michigan State. He holds the Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) title through the CSCCa, and is a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). Whiting is a 2009 graduate of Michigan State with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. He completed his master’s degree in kinesiology with a coaching specialization in 2011, also from Michigan State. He is a native of Plymouth, Michigan.

BrianWHITING Michigan State, 2011 / Fifth Season

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He and his wife, Elise, reside in Morgantown.

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Training

ATHLETIC

Vince Blankenship is in his second year as an assistant athletic trainer and physical therapist at West Virginia, working primarily with the Mountaineer football program. He also provides the athletic training coverage and treatment for the WVU golf team. Blankenship assists with the day-to-day care, rehabilitation and prevention of athletic injuries for the football program. He also has duties as an instructor in the WVU athletic training education program. Blankenship recently served as a seasonal athletic training assistant with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. He handled day-to-day duties with the operations within the athletic training department, including injury prevention, player evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation, overseeing the staff’s interns and working practices and games. Prior to that, he worked a sports medicine clinical with the football team at Georgia for the 2007 and 2012 seasons. He spent two years as a high school outreach athletic trainer for University Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, and as a part-time athletic trainer at Georgia Regents University, while earning his doctor of physical therapy. He also worked as a preseason athletic trainer with the Detroit Lions.

VincentBLANKENSHIP Georgia, 2009 / Second Season

Blankenship earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science with an athletic training emphasis at Georgia in 2009, and his doctor of physical therapy at Georgia Regents University in 2013. He and his wife, Idania, reside in Morgantown.

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■■ The West Virginia athletic training program looks to get its student-athletes back on the field in a timely manner while providing quality health care for its student-athletes and coaches. ■■ The scope of the athletic training services encompass various domains including injury recognition, treatment, rehabilitation, prevention, education, and counseling that will enable the athlete to maintain an optimal quality of life beyond the span of athletic competition. ■■ Multiple athletic training rooms are available for student-athletes furnished with the latest in technology and equipment. ■■ The athletic training staff will work in conjunction with the team physicians and athletic administration to assure the studentathletes receive quality care throughout their careers at WVU.

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Community IN THE

■■ Though participating in its first varsity season in more than 30 years, the West Virginia University golf team has already integrated itself into the Morgantown community by participating in various community service initiatives since returning to campus in 2014. Head coach Sean Covich and the Mountaineers understand the importance of representing the Old Gold and Blue in a positive manner.

■■ The squad has also participated in the Gathering of Mountain Eagles, which provides therapeutic adventures to wounded or injured military veterans and select members of their family throughout West Virginia and Virginia. Past excursions have included white water rafting, zip lining, concerts, snowboarding and sporting events. Most recently, the Mountaineers joined the veterans for a nine-hole scramble and a barbeque lunch.

■■ “Coming to West Virginia and seeing how much the community loves West Virginia sports, it’s nice to be able to give back to the community in a way that we did this past week was really great,” said Easton Renwick. “One of our team goals is to get out into the community at least once a month.”

■■ West Virginia golf routinely visits local schools to interact with and read to children. The Mountaineers have also attended activities at Stepping Stones, a non-profit organization provides year round recreation and personal development opportunities to children & adults with disabilities.

■■ The Mountaineers frequently make trips to nearby WVU Children’s Hospital, visiting with patients and engaging them in games of foosball and air hockey in addition to touring the facility and handing out WVU gear.

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Support

STUDENT-ATHLETE

■■ West Virginia University offers a variety of services and programs to help student-athletes maximize their academic potential. Department staff members work with coaches, on-campus student service providers and faculty to help student-athletes meet the unique demands of the classroom, the sporting arena and the personalsocial challenges they face as developing adults. ■■ While many of the headlines center on the Mountaineers’ accomplishments on the court, field or course, WVU student-athletes have also made some noteworthy strides in the classroom. ■■ To help its student-athletes achieve academic success, one of the nation’s finest facilities resides in the WVU Coliseum – The Athletic Academic Performance Center. The 8,000-square foot facility provides individual and group study areas, a plethora of computer stations and the latest in fingerprint technology used when signing in. ■■ Student-Athletes are honored annually for their classroom achievements at the Blue & Golden Globe Awards, presented by the WVU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Recipients of the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll are acknowledged at the event each spring. Implemented in 1989, the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll was created to recognize student-athletes who have achieved a grade-

point average of 3.0 or better. Since the program began, nearly 4,000 student-athletes have earned a place on the honor roll. Ford retired in 2011 after 44 years of service with the WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. ■■ WVU’s combined varsity athletic teams have an Academic Progress Rate (APR) or 974. The graduation rate for student-athletes has been impressive, to say the least, over the past four years. ■■ For the 2013-14 academic year, West Virginia had seven teams with perfect 1,000 scores: gymnastics, rowing, women’s basketball, cross country, rifle, tennis and women’s swimming & diving. Nine teams had a perfect APR score in 2012-13 with 23 teams total posting perfect scores in the past three years. The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team’s academic performance. ■■ The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) provides a forum for the “voice of the student-athlete” on WVU’s campus. SAAC membership provides feedback to the administration about how to better WVU athletic programs. They offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect studentathletes’ lives in NCAA member institution campuses.

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CAMPUS Life

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Character

Public, land-grant institution, founded in 1867.

Research Classification

R1 Doctoral Universities – Highest research activities as described by the Carnegie Classification of Institutes of Higher Education.

Research Funding

WVU faculty generate more than $127 million annually in sponsored contracts and research grants.

WVU System Operating Budget More than $1 billion.

Accreditations

By the Higher Learning Commission and dozens of specialized academic accrediting agencies.

Governance

The WVU Board of Governors is the governing body of WVU. The Higher Education Policy Commission in West Virginia is responsible for developing, establishing and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities.

Location

Morgantown, W.Va., population 30,293, rated “No. 1 Small City in America” by BizJournals.com for its exceptional quality of life. Within easy traveling distance of Washington, D.C., to the east, Pittsburgh, Pa., to the north, and Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, to the northwest. Other recent rankings: 20th of “50 Best College Towns in America” by Best College Reviews; 24th of “50 Best College Towns to Live in Forever” by CollegeRanker; a “Top Campus Worth Traveling For” by FlipKey.com; and one of “25 Best Places to Retire to in the U.S.” by Forbes. morgantownwv.gov/ about/awards

Student Profile

Fall 2015 enrollment, on WVU campuses statewide, was 31,514; 28,776 in Morgantown.

Academic Excellence

WVU ranks nationally for prestigious scholarships: 24 Rhodes Scholars, 22 Truman Scholars, 40 Goldwater Scholars, two British Marshall Scholars, 4 Morris K. Udall Scholars, 5 USA Today AllUSA College Academic First Team Members (and 11 academic team honorees), 12 Boren Scholars, 14 Gilman Scholars, 43 Fulbright Scholars, 3 Department of Homeland Security Scholars, and 22 Critical Language Scholars.

Degrees Granted

In 2013-14, WVU awarded 5,997 degrees; 1,533 graduate and 196 professional.

Faculty and Staff Profile

Excellent faculty—18 of whom have been named Carnegie Foundation Professors of the Year—guide and mentor students. • instructional faculty: 2,464 • graduate assistants: 1,707 • total main campus employees: 8,179 • total WVU System employees: 8,669

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Academics

15 colleges and schools offering 193 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degree programs in agriculture, natural resources and design; arts and sciences; business and economics; creative arts; dentistry; education and human services; engineering and mineral resources; law; media; medicine; nursing; pharmacy; physical activity and sport sciences; public health; plus the WVU Honors College, University College and programs at Potomac State College and WVU Institute of Technology. wvu.edu/Academics/

Student Living Experience

The First-Year Experience helps students navigate their first year at WVU. Elements include residential colleges and Adventure West Virginia, an outdoor freshman orientation program. All WVU students benefit from a vibrant array of student life programs, including a Festival of Ideas lecture series, bringing the world’s top minds to campus to share their experiences and knowledge; WVUp All Night, a weekend package of safe, fun and healthy activities; an award-winning Student Recreation Center; and the Mountaineer Parents Club, helping families stay connected with their students’ education and life at WVU. Living and Learning Communities are student communities in certain residence halls formed around a theme or specific field of study. Students can live with others who share their academic and social interests. studentlife.wvu.edu

Freshman Class Profile

2014 average ACT of 24, SAT (combined math and critical reading) 1052, and high school GPA of 3.42.

Transportation

University buses operate free on a year-round basis as does the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system—a computerdirected system that glides along 8.7 miles of guideway between Downtown, Evansdale and Health Sciences Center campuses. In addition, Morgantown’s Mountain Line bus service offers free rides to students and employees. WVU ID is required for all services. transportation.wvu.edu

Safety

WVU offers 24-hour campus security protection. Students can download LiveSafe, a free app that is an on-the-go way to connect with authorities. The University also sends urgent news through WVU Alert text messages. emergency.wvu. edu/alert

Student Organizations

Students can choose from more than 475 student organizations, and participate in an active intramural program and many club sports. studentactivities.wvu.edu

Study Abroad

Last year, 706 WVU students traveled to over 60 nations around the world in University-led study abroad programs and international exchanges. Best College Reviews ranked WVU as having a top-50 study abroad program. internationalprograms.wvu.edu

Academic Innovation

Hundreds of distance education classes are available. elearn.wvu.edu

Civic Engagement

The Center for Service and Learning develops and organizes service learning and volunteer opportunities for students and

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faculty and consults with academic units on incorporating civic engagement into the curriculum. WVU has earned the Carnegie Foundation’s Community Engagement Classification, putting WVU in the 6% of higher education institutions that Carnegie recognizes for engagement. service.wvu.edu

Scholarships and Aid

Each year, WVU awards more than $34 million in scholarships to more than 7,100 students from West Virginia and around the nation. There are many different types of scholarships available based on academic record, financial need, group affiliation or some combination of these factors. In 2013-14, over $394 million in financial aid was given out. The average financial package was $16,291. West Virginia residents may be eligible for the PROMISE scholarship in addition to WVU awards. A new campaign is under way to raise $50 million for student scholarships.

Honors College

The WVU Honors College encourages a style of learning and living that is tailored to the highly motivated, excelling student’s special requirements. Innovative, challenging courses, designed to stimulate creativity and to provoke in-depth discussion, are offered in small class settings. Students may participate as Presidential Honors Scholars or Dean’s Honors Scholars; both options provide enhanced experiences. honors.wvu.edu

University College

The University College is a home base for exploratory students, general studies students, nontraditional students, McNair Scholars, academic success initiatives and undergraduate research opportunities. It focuses on academic and career advising, with the goal of guiding students to a major by their sophomore year. universitycollege.wvu.edu

Internships

WVU offers hundreds of ways to gain valuable on-the-job experience and networking contacts. careerservices.wvu.edu

Parents Club

The Mountaineer Parents Club, with more than 22,000 members in clubs across the state and nation, fosters success by connecting parents and family members with the student experience. The organization sponsors events on and offcampus, has a newsletter, a toll-free helpline (1-800-WVU0096), parent electronic news and a Parent Perks program. Membership is free. parentsclub.wvu.edu

Athletics

A member of the NCAA, WVU competes at the Division I level in 18 varsity sports, 17 of which are members of the Big 12 Conference. Teams make regular postseason bowl appearances in football, including winning the 2012 Discover Orange Bowl, and NCAA tournament appearances in men’s and women’s basketball, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2015; women’s soccer won its second consecutive Big 12 tournament championship and made its 15th straight NCAA appearance in in 2014; women’s basketball was the Big 12 champion regular season champ in 2014 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The WVU rifle team won its 17th national title in 2015, and in 2014 became the first WVU athletic team to visit the White House on NCAA Champions Day. wvusports.com

near Weston. jacksonsmill.ext.wvu.edu/

Libraries

Five library facilities—Downtown Library Complex, Evansdale Library, Health Sciences Library, Law Library, and West Virginia and Regional History Center—contain over 2.4 million books, electronic access to 365 databases, over 500,000 eBooks and 47,300 online electronic journals. Library staff offer in-person and online assistance. libraries.wvu.edu

Admission and Application Timeline

Admission is based on a combination of high school GPA and ACT or SAT scores. Applications are processed beginning September 15 for admission the following fall. March 1 is the deadline for West Virginia residents to submit PROMISE Scholarship applications. WVU has a rolling admissions policy, and while there is no official application deadline, applicants who apply later in the year may be deferred to the spring semester. admissions.wvu.edu

Visitors Center

Located on the Morgantown Waterfront, the Visitors Center features unique, cutting-edge displays and traditional West Virginia hospitality. Operating hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Saturday (closed Sundays and most University holidays). Guided tours with friendly, knowledgeable student guides Monday-Friday at 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., except home football Saturdays. Phone: 304-293-3489. visit.wvu.edu

Alumni

Chartered in 1873, the WVU Alumni Association is made up of more than 190,000 graduates worldwide in some 60 nations. alumni.wvu.edu

Private Support

Chartered in 1954, the West Virginia University Foundation is a private nonprofit corporation that generates, administers, invests and disburses contributed funds and properties given by individuals, corporations and philanthropic foundations in support of WVU and its nonprofit affiliates. Last year alone, donors contributed nearly $100 million in cash and in-kind donations. www.wvuf.org

Extension

Throughout the year in West Virginia’s 55 counties, WVU Extension Service faculty and volunteers work with more than 624,000 West Virginians, many of whom participate in 4-H, agriculture, home gardening, health, firefighter training and community development to improve lives and communities; 4-H alone reaches one in four West Virginia youths. ext.wvu.edu

Divisional Campuses

Potomac State College of WVU – Keyser, W.Va.; 800-262-7332; potomacstatecollege.edu West Virginia University Institute of Technology – Montgomery, W.Va.; wvutech.edu Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center – Charleston, W.Va.; hsc. wvu.edu/charleston Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center East – Martinsburg, W.Va.; hsc.wvu.edu/eastern WVU Beckley – Beckley, W.Va.

Facilities

WVU’s mix of historic and modern facilities includes 460 buildings on 13,481 acres. Eleven main campus buildings are located on the National Register of Historic Places, and WVU operates eight experimental farms and four forests throughout the state, in addition to WVU Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Camp

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MOUNTAINEER

Excellence

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2014-15 West Virginia Athletics In Review NCAA TEAM CHAMPIONS Rifle INDIVIDUAL NCAA CHAMPIONS Maren Prediger, Air Rifle TEAM CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS Rifle, GARC Regular Season & Postseason Champions Women’s Soccer, Big 12 Regular Season & Big 12 Tournament Champions INDIVIDUAL INTERNATIONAL TEAM HONORS Michaela Abam, Women’s Soccer, United States Under-20 National Team Michael Bamsey, Rifle, Great Britain National Team Pierce Bradshaw, Swimming and Diving, USA National Junior Open Water Team Kadeisha Buchanan, Women’s Soccer, Full Canadian National Team; Competed in 2015 World Cup Bria Holmes, Women’s Basketball, USA Basketball Team Trials Meelis Kiisk, Rifle, Estonian National Team Ziva Dvorsak, Rifle, Slovenia National Team Elizabeth Gratz, Rifle, USA National Junior Team Jon Hammond, Rifle, Great Britain National Team Dan Hermsmeier, Rifle, USA National Development Team Ashley Lawrence, Women’s Soccer, Full Canadian National Team; Competed in 2015 World Cup Nick Marable, Wrestling, USA National Team Amandine Pierre-Louis, Women’s Soccer, Canadian Under-20 National Team Maren Prediger, Rifle, German National Team Garrett Spurgeon, Rifle, USA National Junior Team NCAA TEAM QUALIFIERS Cross Country Gymnastics Men’s Basketball Rifle Women’s Soccer NCAA INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS Kaitlyn Gillespie, Outdoor Track and Field and Field Andrew Marsh, Men’s Swimming and Diving Zeke Moisey, Wrestling Michael Morales, Wrestling Bubba Scheffel, Wrestling Jake A. Smith, Wrestling Tim Squires, Men’s Swimming and Diving NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS Garret Spurgeon, Rifle, NCAA Rifle Top Performer Award PROFESSIONAL DRAFT PICKS Mario Alford, Football, Cincinnati Bengals (NFL), seventh round (238th overall) Andy Bevin, Men’s Soccer, Seattle Sounders (MLS), fourth round (80th overall) Mark Glowinski, Football, Seattle Seahawks (NFL), fourth round (134th overall) Taylor Munden, Baseball, Miami Marlins (MLB), 27th round (806th overall) Shaquille Riddick, Football, Arizona Cardinals (NFL), fifth round (158th overall) Blake Smith, Baseball, Washington Nationals (MLB), 24th round (734th overall) Kevin White, Football, Chicago Bears (NFL), first round (7th overall) COACHING AWARDS & HONORS Jon Hammond, Rifle, Rifle Winter 2015 CaptainU Coach of the Year Sammie Henson, Wrestling, Amateur Wrestling News Rookie Coach of the Year Dana Holgorsen, Football, Coaches’ Coach of the Year Bob Huggins, Men’s Basketball, Big 12 Coach of the Year; Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year; West Virginia State Sports Writers Coach of the Year; NABC UPS Division I District 8 Coach of the Year Nikki Izzo-Brown, Women’s Soccer, Big 12 Coach of the Year; NSCAA All-Central Region Coach of the Year WVUGolf @WVUGolf

Marlon LeBlanc, Men’s Soccer, MAC Coach of

the Year

Bob Huggins, Men’s Basketball Nikki Izzo-Brown, Women’s Soccer

CONFERENCE MAJOR AWARDS Michaela Abam, Women’s Soccer, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Andy Bevin, Men’s Soccer, MAC Player of the Year Kadeisha Buchanan, Women’s Soccer, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year; Big 12 Tournament Defensive MVP Ziva Dvorsak, Rifle, GARC Shooter of the Year; GARC Senior of the Year Elizabeth Gratz, Rifle, GARC Rookie of the Year; WVU GARC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Ashley Lawrence, Women’s Soccer, Big 12 Tournament Offensive MVP Joey Piatczyc, Men’s Soccer, MAC Freshman of the Year Shaq Riddick, Football, Coaches’ Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year

NATIONAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITION Andy Bevin, Men’s Soccer, Senior CLASS Award Finalist Kadeisha Buchanan, Women’s Soccer, Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Semifinalist; Canada U20 Player of the Year; Hyundai Young Player Award of FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 Sammie Henson, Wrestling, National Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee Averee Fields, Women’s Basketball, Hair Achievement Award for February 2015 Josh Lambert, Football, Palm Beach County Sports Commission Lou Groza Award Finalist Nick Marable, Wrestling, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Professional Athlete of the Year Kate Schwindel, Women’s Soccer, Senior CLASS Award Finalist Juwan Staten, Men’s Basketball, Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award Finalist; Senior CLASS Award Finalist Clint Trickett, Football, Davey O’Brien Semifinalist Kevin White, Football, Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation Biletnikoff Award Finalist; Maxwell Award Semifinalist Kelly Williams, Cross Country, NCAA Division I Women’s Cross Country Elite 89 Award

ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS First Team Andy Bevin, Men’s Soccer, Capital One Academic All-America; NSCAA Scholar AllAmerica David Palley, Swimming and Diving, Capital One Academic All-America Kelly Williams, Track and Field/Cross Country, Capital One Academic All-America Second Team Carly Black, Women’s Soccer, Capital One Academic All-America Averee Fields, Women’s Basketball, Capital One Academic All-America

Golf

Kaitlyn Gillespie, Track and Field/Cross Country/ Capital One Academic All-America Thomas Kyanko, Rifle, Capital One Academic All-America Maren Prediger, Rifle, Capital One Academic All-America

THIRD TEAM Jack Elliott, Men’s Soccer, Capital One Academic All-America Jillian Forsey, Track and Field/Cross Country, Capital One Academic All-America Jenelle Zee, Swimming and Diving

ACADEMIC TEAM AWARDS NSCAA Team Academic Award, Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer

ACADEMIC AWARDS Nikki Attea, volleyball, Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year Alex Basil, Rowing, Big 12 Conference’s Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award Andy Bevin, Men’s Soccer, Capital One Academic All-American of the Year Ali Connelly, Women’s Soccer, Big 12 Conference’s Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award; WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior Award Averee Fields, Women’s Basketball, Big 12 Conference’s Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award; Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year Kaitlyn Gillespie, Cross Country, Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year Elizabeth Gulick, Volleyball, WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior Award & 2015 Order of Augusta Jaida Lawrence, Gymnastics, Big 12 ScholarAthlete of the Year David Palley, Men’s Swimming and Diving, Big 12 Conference’s Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award; Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year; WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior Award ; Big 12 Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarship Maren Prediger, Rifle, Big 12 Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarship, WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior Award Haley VandePool, Women’s Swimming and Diving, Big 12 Conference’s Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award; Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year; WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior Award & 2015 Order of Augusta Kelly Williams, Cross Country, Big 12 Conference’s Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award; WVU Foundation Outstanding Senior Award Jenelle Zee, Women’s Swimming and Diving, Big 12 Conference’s Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award

ALL-AMERICANS First Team Mario Alford, Football, FWAA, Phil Steele Michael Bamsey, Rifle, NRA Air Rifle, NRA Smallbore Kadeisha Buchanan, Women’s Soccer, NSCAA/ Continental Tire; Soccer America MVP

Kyle Davis, Baseball, NCBWA and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Ziva Dvorsak, Rifle, NRA Air Rifle; CRCA Jillian Forsey, Cross Country, USTFCCCA Kaitlyn Gillespie, Cross Country, USTFCCCA Elizabeth Gratz, Rifle, NRA Air Rifle Dravon Henry, Football, ESPN True Freshman Thomas Kyanko, Rifle, NRA Smallbore Jean-Pierre Lucas, Rifle, NRA Smallbore BJ Myers, Baseball, Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Maren Prediger, Rifle, NRA Air Rifle Zeke Moisey, Wrestling, NCAA Garrett Spurgeon, Rifle, NRA Air Rifle; NRA Smallbore; CRCA Juwan Staten, Men’s Basketball, Lute Olson Kevin White, Football, AFCA; Athlon Sports; CBS Sports; NFL Network; SB Nation; Scout; Sports On Earth; Sporting News Second Team Michael Bamsey, Rifle, CRCA Andy Bevin, Men’s Soccer, Senior CLASS Ziva Dvorsak, Rifle, NRA Smallbore Kaitlyn Gillespie, Outdoor Track Elizabeth Gratz, Rifle, CRCA; NRA Smallbore Thomas Kyanko, Rifle, NRA Air Rifle; CRCA Josh Lambert, Football, CBS Sports Maren Prediger, Rifle, CRCA Kate Schwindel, Women’s Soccer, Senior CLASS Juwan Staten, Men’s Basketball, Senior CLASS Patrick Sunderman, Rifle, NRA Air Rifle; NRA Smallbore; CRCA Kevin White, Football, Associated Press; College Sports Madness; Fox Sports; FWAAl; Phil Steele; SI.com; USA TODAY; Walter Camp Football Foundation Third Team Mario Alford, Football, College Sports Madness Josh Lambert, Football, Associated Press; SB Nation Jean-Pierre Lucas, Rifle, CRCA Fourth Team Josh Lambert, Football, Athlon Sports; Phil Steele Honorable Mention Mario Alford, Football, SI.com Jordan Anderson, Volleyball, AVCA Nikki Attea, Volleyball, AVCA Bria Holmes, Women’s Basketball, WBCA Josh Lambert, Football, NFL Network; SI.com Jean-Pierre Lucas, Rifle, NRA Air Rifle

33 First Team and 41 Second Team AllConference Selections 124 Academic All-Conference Selections 488 Student-Athletes were named to the 201415 Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll 517 Total Student-Athletes were named to the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll

CoachingStaff MOUNTAINEER

Head Coach Sean Covich �� 22 Operations Assistant Michael Molinari �� 24 Support Staff �� 24

SEANC0 vich HEAD COACH

Mississippi State, 2004 / Second Season

SEAN COVICH, a

rising coach in collegiate golf, was named West Virginia University’s 12th men’s golf coach on May 22, 2014.

A native of Meridian, Miss., Covich comes to WVU from Mississippi State, where he has served as the assistant men’s golf coach the last three seasons. He previously served as the head men’s golf coach at Meridian Community College for five seasons. At Mississippi State, Covich became the school’s first full-time men’s golf assistant coach in 2011. He helped the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2014 while improving the school’s national ranking from No. 125 in 2011 to a school-record No. 27 in 2013. The Bulldogs won a school-record four tournament titles in 2012-13, then added two more tournament wins in 2013-14 for the most wins (six) in a two-year span in school history. The Bulldogs set school records for best team 36 hole score (-25), best team 54 hole score (-38) and season records for most team birdies (497), most team eagles (14) and most team scores of even-par or better (14). In addition, he helped the Bulldogs to the second-lowest team round in school history (274) and the second-lowest team score in relation to par (-14). Covich coached Chad Ramey to All-SEC honors, the first player in school history to be named all-conference three consecutive seasons. At Meridian Community College, Covich successfully transitioned MCC from a NJCAA Division II program to a NJCAA Division I national power. He led MCC to a NJCAA National Championship Runner-Up finish in just their second season at the Division I level and positioned the Eagles as the No. 1 ranked JUCO team during the 2010-11 season. At MCC, Covich guided his squad to 18 tournament championships. He produced 15 senior college players, six all-tournament team members at the national championship and guided seven All-Americans. During a back-to-back-toback NJCAA postseason run, Covich’s 2010 squad finished runner-up at the NJCAA National Championships. He also coached the school’s first individual national champion in

Golf

2010. The Eagles set multiple school records during the Covich era, including most tournament wins in a season (9), lowest team score (274), and lowest team score in relation to par (-14). Covich earned Coach of the Year honors four times during his span at MCC. In 2007, Covich was awarded with Coach of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, the National Junior College Association of America (NJCAA) Region 23, and the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC). In 2011, after winning the Golf Coaches Association of America’s District IV Coach of the Year Award, he was named a semifinalist for the Golf Coaches Association of America National Coach of the Year.

Known as an outstanding recruiter, Covich recruited and coached Brandt Garon, a two-time All-American at MCC. The Louisiana native won the Arnold Palmer Award and the NJCAA National Championship in 2010 while under Covich’s guidance. Garon then added the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Award in 2011. Another Covich-product was 2012 NJCAA National Champion Jake Stirling. The Aussie was also a two-time All-American and was recruited to MCC by Covich. T.J. Morgan became the third player recruited by Covich to MCC who finished first at the NJCAA National Championship (t1 in 2013). At Mississippi State, Covich reeled in the No. 1 ranked junior college golfer in the nation twice, as Joe Sakulpolphaisan (Darton State College) signed with the Bulldogs in 2012 and Tim Walker (Central Alabama Community College) signed with MSU in 2014. Covich lettered at Meridian Community College from 1998-2000 and was a member of the 1999 NJCAA Region 23 Championship team. He received the Most Dedicated award during the 1998-1999 season. Covich lettered in varsity golf for Lamar High starting in sixth grade. Covich led the Raiders to an unprecedented four consecutiveMPSA Overall State Championships in 1995-1998. He received the Sportsmanship Award in his junior and senior seasons.

Covich completed his education at Mississippi State, earning his bachelor’s degree in sports communications in 2004 and a master’s degree in sports administration in 2006. In 2005, Covich was the Tour Director of the Mississippi Junior Golf Association, during that tenure the MJGA experienced record membership and participation. Along with his guidance of the MJGA, Covich conducted 13 junior golf events, including the Mississippi Junior Championship. In addition to those duties, he assisted in operating several Mississippi Golf Association state championships such as the State Amateur, Senior Amateur and State Four-Ball. He began his golf career under his father, PGA Club Professional Jerry Covich, at Briarwood Country Club in Meridian, Miss. Covich also worked for longtime PGA Club Professional and Robbie Webb Junior Golf Award winner, Jimmy Gamblin, at Northwood Country Club. Working for his father and Gamblin, Covich led junior clinics and camps at Briarwood and Northwood. Covich and his wife, Kate, have one child, John Keenan.

WVUGolf @WVUGolf

MICHAELMolinari OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

West Virginia, 2014 / First Season

Michael Molinari joined the West Virginia University men’s golf team staff as an operations assistant in June of 2015.

Molinari joins head coach Sean Covich for the team’s first varsity season in more than 30 years and is an integral part of the staff. In addition to assisting with recruiting efforts, including evaluations and campus visits, Molinari coordinates with local courses to set the team’s practice schedule and travel arrangements. Additionally, he organized and directed more than 50 volunteers for the inaugural Mountaineer Intercollegiate, working with Pete Dye Golf Club and its members as WVU hosted its home tournament in October of 2015. Molinari boasts experience working with a number of PGA tournaments. He served as the hospitality and marketing intern for the 2015 Memorial Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, working closely with the sales director and facilitating television distribution to hospitality venues as well as allocating tournament magazines to local benefactors. Molinari also worked as an intern for the 2015 Zurich Classic in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he assisted with ticket distribution and sponsor relations, along with promoting the tournament through its social media accounts.

annually to a player who started his career as a walk-on. He was named an NFF National Scholar-Athlete in 2014 and was named to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society in 2015. Molinari was named to the 2014 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his community service efforts, something he has continued during his tenure with the golf program. Molinari graduated from West Virginia in December of 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management. He is currently pursuing an MBA and intends to obtain a Masters of Science in Sports Management.

Staff

Support

RandyMEADOR

VincentBLANKENSHIP

MikeJOSEPH

BrianWHITING

Coordinator, Athletic Training Services

Athletic Training

Director, Strength & Conditioning

Strength Coach

KevinMILLER

BubbaSCHMIDT

Dr. MattLIVELY

JanainaLIMA-FOGACA

Mountaineer Athletic Club

Varsity Sports Equipment Manager

Medical Director

Sports Psychology Consultant

As an operations intern for the 2015 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in Monterey, California, Molinari assisted with the set up and breakdown of tournament venues and served as a resource for inventory, product identification and storage. He performed similar duties as an operations assistant for the 2014 Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. From 2012-14, Molinari was a pro shop assistant at the Pines Country Club in Morgantown, which serves as one of WVU’s home courses. He worked as the morning supervisor and was in charge of training new employees while assisting members. He also worked with the club professional, learning facility operations and course management. A native of Parkersburg, Molinari was a four-year letterwinner as a placekicker/punter for the WVU football team. He earned a trio of First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors after being named a Big East Academic All-Star in 2011. In 2014 Molinari was nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, given

Golf

BradyROURKE

MarkHENSELMAN

Ashley BAILEY

Associate Athletic Director, Student-Athlete Development

Student-Athlete Development

Athletic Communications

Profiles

MOUNTAINEER

Roster �� 26 Profiles �� 27

2016 ROSTER Name

Ht.

Yr.

Hometown

Alan Cooke

5-10

Jr.

Parkersburg, W.Va.

Cole Hand

6-1

Fr.

Wheeling

Tae Wan Lee

5-10

So.

Seoul, Korea

Tristan Nicholls

6-1

Fr.

Gold Coast, Queensland, Aus.

Jon Ransone

5-9

r-So.

Hilliard, Ohio

Easton Renwick

6-0

r-Sr.

Punxsutawney, Pa.

Avery Schneider

6-5

So.

New Albany, Ohio

Max Sear

5-10

Fr.

Unionville, Ontario, Canada

Mason Short

5-7

r-Sr.

Waldorf, Md.

Chris Williams

5-9

Jr.

Scott Depot, W.Va.

High School (Previous School) Parkersburg (USC Beaufort) Wheeling Park Downey Christian (Florida) Southport School Bishop Watterson (Toledo) Socastee (Coastal Carolina) New Albany (Drexel) Bill Crothers Secondary St. Mary’s Ryken (Maryland) Winfield (Coastal Carolina)

Head Coach: Sean Covich (Mississippi State, 2004 – 2nd Season) Operations Assistant: Michael Molinari (West Virginia, 2014 – 1st Season)

2016GolfTEAM

BACK ROW L-R: Chris Williams, Easton Renwick, Avery Schneider, Tristan Nicholls, Cole Hand, Operations Assistant Michael Molinari FRONT ROW: Head coach Sean Covich, Tae Wan Lee, Jon Ransone, Mason Short, Alan Cooke, Max Sear

Golf

EASTON R-SR. | 6-0

PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA./SOCASTEE (COASTAL CAROLINA) At West Virginia in 2014-15 (Jr.) ■■ Practiced

with the team during its first unofficial season back on campus

At Coastal Carolina in 2012-13 (So.) ■■ Transferred

from Coastal Carolina University in 2014 ■■ Competed in eight events for the Chanticleers ■■ Won the Charleston Shootout with a score of 68-71-77-216 ■■ At Coastal Carolina in 2011-12 (Fr.) ■■ Played in three events as a freshman ■■ Carded a score of 230 at the Gifford Collegiate ■■ Shot at 236 at the Hackler

Amateur Golf

■■ West Penn Amateur Champion 2015 ■■ West Penn Open Low Amateur 2015 ■■ T-15 Pennsylvania Amateur 2015 ■■ Runner-up West Penn &

Pennsylvania Public Links 2015

Renwick

■■ Medalist

at the US APL Sectional Qualifier in 2014 ■■ Runner-up at the West Penn Amateur in 2012 ■■ Qualified for the USGA Junior Amateur Championships ■■ Won the 2008 and 2009 C.R. Miller Matchplay Championship ■■ 2008 and 2009 Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Junior Player of the Year ■■ Runner up at the 2009 Pennsylvania Junior Championship

■■ Qualified

High School

Personal

■■ Posted

a pair of top-30 finishes on the AJGA tour in 2010 ■■ Won the Seventh Annual Junior Golf Shootout at Myrtle Beach National in 2010 ■■ 2008 and 2009 Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Junior Player of the Year ■■ Runner up at the 2009 Pennsylvania Junior Championship

for the USGA Junior Amateur Championships ■■ Medalist at the US APL Sectional Qualifier in 2014 ■■ Runner up at the West Penn Amateur in 2012 ■■ Won the 2008 and 2009 C.R. Miller Matchplay Championships ■■ Attended Punxsutawney Area HS before transferring to Socastee (S.C.) HS where he was unable to play golf due to transfer rules ■■ Son

of Pamela Miller Creighton and Patrick Renwick ■■ One sister, Charlie Grace ■■ One son, Jackson ■■ Father played baseball at Lock Haven ■■ Grandfather Joe Renwick is in the Alfred Football Hall of Fame (Quarterback) ■■ International Studies major

WVUGolf @WVUGolf

MASON SR. | 5-7

WALDORF, MD. ST. MARY’S RYKEN (MARYLAND) At West Virginia in 2014-15

■■ 2010 All-Met First Team ■■ Two-time All-Met Honorable Mention ■■ Three-time team MVP ■■ 2010 WCAC Conference Champion

■■ Practiced

with the team during its first unofficial season back on campus

At West Virginia in 2013-14 (r-So.)

■■ President of WVU’s club golf team ■■ Won the 2014 National Collegiate Club

Golf Association

Tournament with a score of 72-74-146 ■■ Earned an exemption into the Southeast Amateur

At Maryland in 2011-12 (Fr.) - Maryland ■■ Competed

as an individual at the Maryland Intercollegiate, carding a 234

High School

■■ Four-year starter at St. Mary’s Ryken ■■ Three-time team captain ■■ Three-time all-conference first team ■■ Four-time county player of the year ■■ Four-time all-county first team

Golf

Short

for coach Jason Early

Personal

■■ Son of Jerry Short and Dawn Chavez ■■ Father played football at Salisbury State ■■ Has a brother, Austin, and sister, MacKenzie ■■ Birthday is November 11 ■■ Major is communications

ALAN

JR. | 5-10

PARKERSBURG, W.VA. PARKERSBURG (USC BEAUFORT) At USC Beaufort in 2014-15 (So.)

■■ NAIA MGCA Second Team All-American ■■ Ranked 28th in the nation with a72.96 scoring average ■■ Took 18th at NAIA Men’s Golf Nationals ■■ Claimed first at the Thomas University Fall Invite

with a score of 69-70-139 for five under par ■■ Sun Conference Player of the Week (April 13) ■■ Won the Golfweek NAIA Spring Invite

Cooke

Prep

■■ Played for Parkersburg High ■■ Named to the 2011 and 2012 West Virginia ■■ Earned International Junior Golf Tour All-

AAA All-State Team

Tournament Team in 2012 and 2013 sixth at the 2013 West Virginia State Amateur with a 71-67-74-78

■■ Took

At USC Beaufort in 2013-14 (Fr.)

■■ NAIA MGCA Third Team All-American ■■ Posted a pair of top-15 finishes as a

freshman for the Sand Sharks at the Coastal Georgia Invitational with a 223 the JWU Adamonis Invitational with a score of 221 ■■ PING NAIA All-Region Team ■■ Registered a top-15 finish at the 2014 West Virginia State Open ■■ Carded a 73 at the US Open Local Qualifier in North Carolina ■■ Finished T-12th ■■ Tied for 13th at

WVUGolf @WVUGolf

CHRIS JR. | 5-9

SCOTT DEPOT, W.VA. WINFIELD (COASTAL CAROLINA) At Coastal Carolina in 2014-15 (So.) ■■ Tied

for 68th, shooting 10 over with 226 at the Tar Heel Intercollegiate ■■ Transferred to WVU mid-year ■■ 2013-14 (Fr.) at Coastal Carolina ■■ Played in eight events, including each of the team’s first five ■■ Posted a 77.75 scoring average ■■ Opened his collegiate career by shooting a 2-under 70, followed by a round of even par at the Windon Memorial and finished with a 9-over 225 ■■ Shot 9-over 224 (74-75-75) at the David Toms Intercollegiate.

Prep

■■ Tabbed

the 2012 West Virginia Golf Association Junior of the Year ■■ Recipient of the William C. Campbell Scholarship from the West Virginia Golf Foundation ■■ Two-time AAA All-State honoree

Golf

■■ Qualified

Williams

twice as an individual to the state championship, finishing seventh as a sophomore ■■ Medalist at the 2012 Mountain State Athletic Conference Championship ■■ Was low junior at the 2012 West Virginia Open and 2012 West Virginia Amateur and runner-up at the 2012 West Virginia Junior Amateur ■■ Won the 2012 American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Webb Simpson Junior Championship at Bryan Park Golf & Conference Center’s Players Course in North Carolina, shooting a 54-hole score of 201 ■■ Maintained the first place position throughout three events of the Championship, carding rounds of 64-68-69

■■ Also

won first-place five times on the Top Flite Junior Tour (Resort at Glade Springs, Lewisburg Elks, Guyan Country Club, Sugarwood Golf Club and the Pine Country Club) ■■ Additionally won events on the Kentucky Junior Golf Tour (Stonecrest Golf Club), Optimist Qualifier (Sleepy Hollow Golf Club) and Optimist second Round Qualifier (Crooked Creek) ■■ Won events on the Top Elite Junior Tour and Tar Heel Tour while qualifying for the West Virginia Open and West Virginia Amateur in 2011 ■■ Also played football and tennis at Winfield Personal ■■ Played football and tennis at Winfield ■■ National Honor Society

TAE WAN

JON

Lee

Ransone

SO. | 5-10

R-SO. | 5-9

SEOUL, KOREA DOWNEY CHRISTIAN (FLORIDA)

At West Virginia in 2014-15 ■■ Practiced

with the team during its first unofficial season back on campus

At Florida in 2013-14 (Fr.) - Florida ■■ Did

not see any tournament action as a freshman

High School

■■ Competed for Downey Christian HS in Orlando, Florida ■■ Played for the East team at the 2012 and 2013 Wyndham Cups ■■ Went 4-0-0 at the 2012 Wyndham Cup to earn MVP honors ■■ Took 21st at the 2012 Western Amateur Championship ■■ Was the runner-up at the 2012 AJGA at

HILLIARD, OHIO BISHOP WATERSON (TOLEDO)

At West Virginia in 2014-15 ■■ Practiced

with the team during its first unofficial season back on campus ■■ Took a redshirt season after transferring from Toledo

At Toledo in 2013-14 (Fr.)

■■ Transferred to WVU from the Univ. of Toledo in 2014 ■■ Appeared in a pair of tournaments for the Rockets ■■ Finished 18th at the Earl Yestingsmeier Memorial

Invitational hosted by Ball State

High School

Innisbrook and the Terra Cotta Invitational ■■ Finished fifth at the 2012 Florida Azalea Invitational ■■ Won four tournaments in 2007, including the Korean Junior Golf Association Championship ■■ Took first at the KJGA MBC Invitational

■■ Four-year letterwinner at Bishop Watterson High ■■ Three-year captain ■■ All-state, all-district and all-conference honoree ■■ Two-time district player of the year ■■ Columbus Dispatch Player of the Week ■■ Posted back-to-back top-10 finishes at the

Personal

■■ Played

■■ Son of YeongCheol Lee ■■ Has one brother ■■ Birthday is April 13 ■■ Will major in business

TaeWanLEE

and ShingYeong Park

School

Golf Club at Yankee Trace Tournament for Gerry Hammond at the Gerry Hammond Golf Academy

Personal

■■ Son of Tim and Anne Ransone ■■ Has one brother and one sister ■■ Sister, Emily, golfed at Penn State ■■ Birthday is May 27. ■■ Major is marketing.

JonRANSONE

WVUGolf @WVUGolf

AVERY

TRISTAN

Schneider

Nicholls

SO. | 6-4

FR. | 6-1

NEW ALBANY, OHIO NEW ALBANY (DREXEL)

At Drexel 2014-15 (Fr.)

Prep

■■ Played in five events for the Dragons ■■ Posted a top-20 finish at the CAA Championships,

■■ Ranked

finishing T-16th with a 225 13th at the Temple Invitational with a two-round score of 147 ■■ Placed eighth at the Leo Keenan Invitational, carding a 142 ■■ Competed at the U.S. Open Local Qualifier ■■ Took 17th in the Amateur Division of the Ohio Open ■■ Finished ninth at the AJGA ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior ■■ Finished in the top-25 of the 2014 Ohio Amatuer ■■ Took

Prep

■■ Two-time sectional and ■■ Also played basketball

district champion for New Albany

Personal

■■ Parents are Roger and Kathleen ■■ Has on brother ■■ Plans to major in biology

GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA SOUTHPORT SCHOOL

as high as No. 3 in the Queensland Junior Golf Rankings in 2012 ■■ Played for Southport School from 201015 and was a two-year captain ■■ A member of South Coast Schools U19 team in 2013 and 2014 ■■ Played for the Queensland Junior State Team in 2012 and 2013 ■■ Won the Intercollegiate Challenge and Dave Mullen Cup in 2014 ■■ Claimed the 2013 Fayde Points Challenge ■■ Took 17th at the 2014 Australian Boys’ Amateur Championship (74-73-73-75) ■■ Finished in the top 10 at the Burleigh Cup, Wayne Brady Cup and Gary Player Classic ■■ Registered a top-25 finish at the Greg Norman Junior Masters ■■ Averaged a score of 74.8 in 2013-14

Personal

Schneider

■■ Parents

are Gavin and Sharon Nicholls

MAX

Sear

COLE

Hand

FR. | 5-10

FR. | 6-1

UNIONVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA BILL CROTHERS SECONDARY SCHOOL

WHEELING, W.VA. WHEELING PARK

Prep

■■ Played for Wheeling Park HS ■■ Led the Patriots to West Virginia

State Championships in 2011, 2013 and 2014 ■■ Helped the squad claim the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference 5A Championship in 2011, 2012 and 2014 ■■ 2014 West Virginia Junior State Champion ■■ Two-time West Virginia Class AAA State medalist ■■ Runner-up at the 2011 and 2014 state championships ■■ Two-time OVAC runner-up ■■ Claimed 18 victories on the Callaway Junior Tour

Personal

■■ Parents are Scott and Corrie ■■ Has two brothers, Scott and Seth

Golf

Prep

■■Top-ranked

golfer in Ontario in the class of 2015; ranked fourth overall in Canada ■■ Ranked No. 199 in the world for the class of 2015 ■■ Member of the Ontario Provincial Team ■■ Two-time high school Provincial Champion ■■ Won the All-Ontario Secondary School Championship, the Team Ontario Cup and the U.S. Amateur Junior Qualifier in 2014 ■■ Posted top-five showings at the Ontario Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship and the Williamson Cup ■■ Qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur, Canadian Men’s Amateur, and Canadian Junior Boys’ Championship ■■ In 2013 won the Ontario Junior Championship Qualifier, AJGA Greenhills Qualifier, and AllOntario Secondary School Championship ■■ Runner-up at Ontario Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship Personal ■■ Parents are Doug and Kris Sear ■■ Sister, Kristen, plays golf at Ball State

Preview SEASON

Preview �� 34 Mountaineer Intercollegiate �� 36

Golf

MountaineersTee Off

Thirty Years Later,

After two years – and three decades – in the making, the West Virginia University golf team will tee off this weekend at the Tiger Turning Stone Invitational in Verona, New York, marking the Mountaineers’ first varsity competition since 1982. Former director of athletics Oliver Luck re-introduced the sport in July of 2013, focusing on the tradition on campus, the growth of the sport in the state of West Virginia and the need for an additional men’s program sponsored by the Big 12 Conference. “Golf had a strong tradition on this campus, and its statewide popularity makes it a perfect addition to our department,” said Luck at the time. “A lot of thought, time and effort went into this decision as far as cost, travel and infrastructure goes, and I believe the strong tradition and history of Big 12 golf will only enhance our chances of building a championship program.”

Tae Wan Lee (left) and head coach Sean Covich.

Golf

The Big 12 successfully produces professional male golfers year after year, with some of the most recent being Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth. While at Oklahoma State, Fowler earned the 2008 Ben Hogan Award, presented annually to the top collegiate golfer. He turned pro in 2009 and has won four events on the PGA Tour since them. Spieth won the 2014 Masters Tournament in record fashion just three years after leaving Texas to join the professional ranks. With this in mind, Luck tabbed former Mississippi State assistant Sean Covich as the new coach of the Mountaineers in May 2014. Covich successfully recruited SEC talent the three years he spent in Starkville, helping the Bulldogs to a pair of NCAA Tournaments and guiding Chad Ramey to All-SEC accolades for three consecutive seasons. In addition, Covich brought with him to Morgantown five seasons of head coaching experience, as he previously served as the coach at Meridian Community College,

leading MCC to 18 tournament championships, four top-10 finishes at the NJCAA Championships and an individual national champion in T.J. Morgan. “Sean has experienced tremendous success in his eight years as a golf coach,” said Luck at a press conference announcing Covich’s hiring. “He is a relentless recruiter who has been known to find diamonds in the rough out on the recruiting trails.” The first order of business for Covich was to find players for a team that wouldn’t compete for another 15 months. By September, he had his first four. Jon Ransone, an Ohio native looking to transfer after spending his freshman season at Toledo, was the first to get in touch. An acquaintance at Penn State notified Covich of a player who had previously left Coastal Carolina and was looking for a new program. The Nittany Lions didn’t have room for him but pointed him in the direction of a team close to home looking for players and soon after, Easton Renwick was a Mountaineer. Tae Wan Lee of Seoul, South Korea, arrived in Morgantown as a top high school prospect who redshirted his freshman season at Florida. Covich didn’t have to look far for the final member of his foursome. Mason Short had played a semester at Maryland before transferring to WVU upon hearing rumors of a golf team about to start. He had even competed for the WVU club golf team, winning the NCGA National Championship and earning an exemption into the Southern Amateur. “I was hoping to find a few upperclassmen with previous collegiate experience to help build this program from scratch and believe that they will bring instant leadership and experience to our team as we continue to recruit future student-athletes,” said Covich in August of 2014. “While each player has taken a different path to West Virginia, they all share a common goal in wanting to lay a strong foundation for Mountaineer golfers. I am grateful for their confidence in me and in WVU.” The next step was finding a place, or places, to practice. Since the University does not have its own golf course, the Mountaineers were forced to get creative in finding their space. Eight different courses were announced as practice or tournament homes for the Mountaineers: Lakeview Golf Course, Mountainview Golf Course and The Pines Country Club (all located in Morgantown); The Links at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Mystic Rock, Nemacolin Golf Academy (all located at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania); Pete Dye Golf Club (Bridgeport) and the Arnold Palmer Signature Course at Stonewall Resort (Roanoke). West Virginia practiced and held intersquad competitions throughout the year, jetting to Florida a few times for a change of scenery. The Mountaineers also immersed themselves in the city of Morgantown and its people, participating in community service activities at WVU

Children’s Hospital, Stepping Stones, the Gathering of Mountain Eagles and more. The team also got an indoor practice facility, as the school converted a former dance studio in the WVU Coliseum into a spot for putting and chipping. Covich invested in a Trackman Golf Simulator, allowing the players to monitor their swing from the comfort of the Coliseum during the long Morgantown winters. In January, the team landed its first West Virginia native. Chris Williams, of Scott Depot, left Coastal Carolina, where he had seen action as a freshman, to return home and play for the school for whom grew up rooting. Fellow native Alan Cooke, of Parkersburg, announced his intentions to return home that spring after he finished his sophomore year of competition at USC Beaufort. Three other golfers who committed to the Mountaineers in November of 2014 arrived on campus the following August. Like Williams and Cooke, Wheeling native Cole Hand chose to stay close to home and don the Old Gold and Blue. He was joined by Australian Tristan Nicholls and Canadian Max Sear. All three arrived as freshman in 2015 and will be the first four-year members of the new Mountaineer squad. Just a few weeks before practice began, Avery Schneider joined the team after spending his freshman season at Drexel. The addition of the Ohio native brought the WVU roster to 10, a far cry from the original four it had been 12 months earlier. Covich also took on a graduate assistant in the form of Michael Molinari, a former WVU kicker who turned down a chance to work with the football program to help with the Mountaineer golf team. We are all excited to start competition officially this season,” said Covich. “Last year was a long process of figuring out a lot of logistics and seeing what works for us as a program. Now we get to implement those plans and of course, continue learning. Our No. 1 goal will remain the same- to represent West Virginia University with class on and off the golf course.” The Mountaineers embark on their 2015-16 schedule on September 6, when they travel to Verona, New York, to take part in the two-day Tiger Turning Stone Invitational at Turning Stone Resort. The full slate includes 12 tournaments in addition to the Big 12 Championships, set for April 29-May 1 at Whispering Pines Country Club in Trinity, Texas. West Virginia will play their first in-state competition September 14-15 at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational in Huntington before playing host to the inaugural Mountaineer Intercollegiate at the Pete Dye Golf Course in Bridgeport October 19-20. Follow @WVUSports and @WVU_Golf on Twitter

WVUGolf @WVUGolf

Intercollegiate MOUNTAINEER

■■ In

its first official season in more than 30 years, the West Virginia University men’s golf team will highlight its schedule with the inaugural Mountaineer Intercollegiate, a home tournament to be played October 19-20 at the Pete Dye Golf Club in Bridgeport, West Virginia.

■■ In

addition to the Mountaineers, 13 teams from the MAC, SEC, Big East, Big 10 and Conference USA will participate in the invitational. A pair of NCAA Regional qualifiers, Miami (OH) and Penn State, are amongst the participants.

■■ “We

are very excited to be hosting WVU’s first intercollegiate tournament in over 30 years at Pete Dye Golf Club,” said coach Sean Covich. “Pete Dye Golf Club is no stranger to championship golf, having hosted a number of professional events and amateur national qualifiers.”

■■ Previously

Akron

Bowling Green

Cincinnati

Marshall

announced as one of the Mountaineers’ home courses, Pete Dye Golf Club is rated as No. 45 on Golf Digest’s rankings of America’s 100 Greatest Courses and is considered the ninth-best Modern Course by the publication. It previously played host to the PGA Tour/ web.com event. It runs 7,308 yards long with a course rating of 76.9 and slope rating of 147 as a par 72.

■■ “The

Miami (OH)

Mississippi State

Missouri

Penn State

Seton Hall

St. John’s

Toledo

Towson

UConn

West Virginia

Golf

Pete Dye Golf Club is honored to host the Mountaineer Intercollegiate,” said Pete Dye Director of Operations Donna Mitchell. “We welcome all of the participating colleges to our 18-hole championship course designed by genius golf course architect and friend, Pete Dye. It’s going to be a memorable tournament built on Mountaineer traditions including the beauty of our land and kindness of the people from our great state. We encourage spectators to come out and support the tournament and root on the Mountaineer golf team.”

■■ Both

Miami (OH) and Penn State appeared in the Chapel Hill regional last season, with the Nittany Lions taking 11th at the event. Penn State took third in the Big 10 to earn its berth, while Miami (OH) won the MAC Tournament in 2015. MAC runner-up Toledo also will be in attendance, as will in-state foe Marshall. A complete list of participating teams can be found below.

■■ “We

are excited to host these teams on one of America’s best courses,” said Covich.

Records

MOUNTAINEER

All-Time Records �� 38 Golf Scoring Records �� 39 Series Records vs.Opponents �� 42

Records

All-Time

Year W-L-T Coach

Captain

Year W-L-T Coach

Captain

1933

4-1-1

Jack Hoblitzell

1957

4-8-0

Ira Rodgers

A. Morosco

1934

4-3-0

Bob Lowe

1958

5-4-1

Ira Rodgers

Bucky Lane

1935

3-3-1

Sam Aspinall

1959

4-8-0

Ira Rodgers

Adolph Popp

1936

1-3-0

Kirk Jackson

1960

3-5-4

Ira Rodgers

Adolph Popp

1937

1-4-1

Kirk Jackson

1961

7-5-1

Ira Rodgers

Bob King

1938

3-6-0

Tom Graham

1962

9-2-1

C. Hockenberry

Sid Bennett

1939

4-2-0

Dr. R. Aspinall

Tom Graham

1963

6-4-0

C. Hockenberry

Jim Hess

1940

3-2-0

Dr. R. Aspinall

Tom Graham

1964

6-6-0

C. Hockenberry

None

1941

4-1-0

Dr. R. Aspinall

Woody Wyatt

1965

7-7-0

C. Hockenberry

None

1942

No Golf – WW II

1966

11-4-0

C. Hockenberry

D. Spannauer

1943

No Golf – WW II

1967

6-7-0

C. Hockenberry

Steve Hague

1944

No Golf – WW II

1968

11-2-1

C. Hockenberry

None

1945

No Golf – WW II

1969

14-3-0

C. Hockenberry

Bruce Keagy

1946

6-2-1

Dr. R. Aspinall

Michael Krak

1970

8-2-2

C. Hockenberry

Bruce Keagy

1947

12-0-0

Dr. R. Aspinall

Don Hall

1971

10-6-0

C. Hockenberry

Jack Lynn

1948

8-4-0

Dr. R. Aspinall

Berkeley Davis

1972

12-8-0

C. Hockenberry

None

1949

12-0-0

Ira Rodgers

Robert Coulson

1973

12-7-0

C. Hockenberry

None

1950

8-4-0

Ira Rodgers

T. Prozillo

1974

11-3-0

C. Hockenberry

None

1951

5-4-0

Ira Rodgers

Claude Hills

1975

5-10-0

C. Hockenberry

None

1952

7-5-0

Ira Rodgers

Reggie Spencer

1976

6-11-0

C. Hockenberry

None

1953

8-4-1

Ira Rodgers

Reggie Spencer

1977

11-6-0

C. Hockenberry

None

1954

5-3-2

Ira Rodgers

Bruce Davis

1978

10-0-1

C. Hockenberry

None

1955

7-3-0

Ira Rodgers

“Happy” Hall

1979

4-1-0

Bob Gwynne

None

1956

5-4-0

Ira Rodgers

George Pettit

1980

3-0-0

John Sermon

Richard Wainwright

1974MOUNTAINEERS

Golf

Golf Scoring 18 Holes

Records

Mike Tennant

NCAA District 2 Tourn.

1982

Nittany Lion Invitational

1980

Mike Krak

Twice

1947, 48

Dan Akerman

Jack Lynn

vs. Indiana

1971

Richard Wainwright 73

West Virginia Quad

1978

Berk Davis

vs. Washington & Jefferson

1948

Jim Flink

vs. Ohio/Penn State

1976

Claude Hillis

vs. Maryland

1949

John Elwood

Ohio/Pitt/Glenville Quad

1978

Reggie Spencer

vs. Ohio

1952

Jeff Rowan

vs. California (PA)/Davis Elkins 1978

Jim Goodwin

vs. West Liberty

1963

Tim Dyer

West Virginia Quad

1981

Gary Loring

vs. Pitt

1963

Mike Tennant

Indiana University

1981

Armand Coulson

vs. Duquesne

1941

Phil Zambos

Three times

1977, 79

Tom Prozzillo

vs. Geneva College

1949

Stain Wiel

vs. W.V. Wesleyan

1980

Stan Nolte

vs. Fairmont State

1962

Greg Guadino

Three times

1981

Jim Goodwin

vs. Fairmont State

1964

Terry Dubois

Four times

1981, 82

Dave Stannbauer

vs. Pitt

1966

Robert Clark

Three times

1977, 78

Dave Lester

Twice

1976

Dave Lester

Twice

1976

George Wilson

vs. Pitt

1963

Greg Rohanna

vs. Indiana (PA)

1976

James Kuhn

vs. Indiana

1966

Harry Young

vs. Indiana

1968

36 Hole-Tournament

Bruce Keagy

vs. Indiana

1968

Pat Weaver

72-73=145

Eastern Eight Tournament

Richard Adams

vs. Indiana

1968

Dave Lester

77-72=147

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1977

Robert Ault

three times

1968

Dave Lester

77-70=148

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1979

Jim Camella

vs. LHU, Edinboro, SLU

1973

John Elwood

77-72=149

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1979

Pat Weaver

vs. California (PA)/Davis Elkins 1978

John Elwood

77-72=149

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1977

John Elwood

James Madison Invitational

1977

Pat Weaver

72-78=150

Eastern Eight Tournament

James Kuhn

vs. Indiana

1966

Terry Dubois

77-75=152

NCAA District 2 Tournament 1982

Harry Young

vs. Indiana

1968

Gary Loring

74-79= 153

SoCon Tournament

1963

Bruce Keagy

vs. Indiana

1968

Jim Camella

76-77= 153

Marshall Invitational

1974

Richard Adams

vs. Indiana

1968

Bill Field

xx-xx=154

SoCon Tournament

1965

Robert Ault

three times

1968

Mike Tennant

82-72=154

NCAA District 2 Tournament 1982

Jim Camella

vs. Lock Haven, Edinboro,

Rick Rodocha

xx-xx=155

Marshall Invitational

1978

1975

and Slippery Rock

1973

John Elwood

xx-xx=155

ECAC Golf Championships 1976

Bob Walker

vs. Pitt

1949

Rob Clark

xx-xx=155

ECAC Golf Championships 1976

Bruce Davis

vs. Pitt

1954

John Elwood

77-78=155

Eastern Eight Tournament

1978

Robert Maier

vs. Pitt

1955

Thomas Prozzillo

xx-xx=156

SoCon Tournament

1951

Larry Christian

vs. Fairmont St.

1964

Reggie Spencer

80-76= 156

SoCon Tournament

1953

James Kuhn

vs. Wheeling College

1965

Dave Lester

80-76=156

West Liberty Tournament

1976

Steve Wood

vs. Pitt

1966

Dave Lester

xx-xx=156

ECAC Golf Championships 1976

Lindsey Gonder

vs. Pitt

1966

Pat Weaver

xx-xx=156

ECAC Golf Championships 1976

Richard Lynn

vs. Slippery Rock

1969

Pat Weaver

81-75=156

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1979

WVUGolf @WVUGolf

Pat Weaver

81-75=156

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1977

John Elwood

75-77-77=229 Marshall Invitational

1979

Dave Lester

80-76=156

West Liberty Tournament

1976

Pat Weaver

80-75-75=230 Nittany Lion Invitational

1979

Terry Dubois

79-78=157

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1981

Pat Weaver

77-71-82=230 Penn State Tournament

1977

Stan Jones

81-76=157

Eastern Eight Tournament

1978

Pat Weaver

82-71-78=231 Eastern Kentucky Invitational 1976

Jim Hess

83-75= 158

So. Con. Tournament

1963

John Elwood

82-76-76=231 Nittany Lion Invitational

1979

Ron Rumora

xx-xx=158

So. Con. Tournament

1963

John Elwood

81-76-74=231 Penn State Tournament

1977

Ted Long

78-81=159

NCAA District 2 Tournament 1982

Bob Clark

77-71-83=231 Penn State Tournament

1977

Rich Wainwright

80-79=159

Eastern Eight Tournament

1978

Stain Weil

77-76-78=231 Marshall Invitational

1980

Pat Weaver

75-85=160

West Liberty Tournament

1976

Dan Ackerman

75-76-80=231 Marshall Invitational

1981

Jeff Rowan

79-82=161

Eastern Eight Tournament

1978

T. Olson

74-80-78=232 James Madison Invitational 1978

Greg Guadino

83-78=161

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1981

John Elwood

74-78-82=232 Marshall Invitational

1977

Mike Tennant

80-82=162

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1981

Pat Weaver

81-76-75=232 Marshall Invitational

1977

Bill Hyre

81-81=162

Eastern Eight Tournament

1978

John Elwood

77-76-80=233 Marshall Invitational

1978

Mark Greer

79-84=163

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1981

Mike Tennant

80-75-79=234 Marshall Invitational

1981

Dan Ackerman

83-81=164

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1981

Pat Weaver

77-79-78=234 Eastern Kentucky Invitational 1976

John Elwood

82-83=165

West Liberty Tournament

1976

Dan Ackerman

80-82-72=234 Nittany Lion Invitational

1980

Richard Wainwright 82-84=166

West Liberty Tournament

1976

Pat Weaver

77-78-80=235 Marshall Invitational

1979

Robert Clark

84-82=166

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1979

Rohanna

78-78-79=235 Eastern Kentucky Invitational 1976

Robert Clark

84-82=166

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1977

Robert Clark

235

Nittany Lion Invitational

1979

Robert Clark

86-81=167

West Liberty Tournament

Jeff Rowan

76-79-80=235 Nittany Lion Invitational

1980

Ed Meador

81-87=168

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1981

David Kaiser

76-78-81= 235 Penn State Invitational

1975

Richard Wainwright 87-81=168

Coastal Carolina Golf Classic 1978

Greg Guadino

75-76-84=235 Marshall Invitational

1981

Richard Wainwright 87-82=169

West Virginia Intercollegiate 1977

Jim Flink

75-77-84=236 Eastern Kentucky Invitational 1976

Patrick Weaver

86-84=170

Coastal Carolina Golf Classic 1978

Dave Lester

79-79-79=237 Nittany Lion Invitational

1976

John Elwood

86-85=171

Coastal Carolina Golf Classic 1978

Jim Flink

77-78-82=237 Nittany Lion Invitational

1976

Stan Wiel

86-85=171

Coastal Carolina Golf Classic 1978

Stan Jones

75-81-81=237 Colonel Classic (EKU)

1979

Phil Zambos

83-89=172

Coastal Carolina Golf Classic 1978

Richard Wainwright 76-79-82=237 Marshall Invitational

1980

Greg Guadino

87-91=178

Coastal Carolina Golf Classic 1978

Dan Ackerman

83-76-78=237 Nittany Lion Invitational

1981

Greg Guadino

81-75-81=237 Nittany Lion Invitational

1981

54 Hole-Tournament

Robert Clark

77-78-82=237 Marshall Invitational

1977

John Elwood

70-80-71=221 James Madison Invitational 1977

Mike Tennant

78-77-83=238 Nittany Lion Invitational

1981

John Elwood

70-80-71= 221 James Madison Invitational 1978

Jim Rider

80-77-82=239 Penn State Tournament

1977

David Lester

72-73-77=222 Eastern Kentucky Invitational 1976

Richard Wainwright 79-80-80=239 Penn State Tournament

1977

John Elwood

73-80-72=225 Eastern Kentucky Invitational 1976

Phil Zambos

82-78-79=239 Nittany Lion Invitational

1979

Phil Zambos

74-75-75=224 Colonel Classic (EKU)

1979

Rich Wainwright

78-81-80=239 Marshall Invitational

1978

Phil Zambos

74-75-75=224 Marshall Invitational

1979

Richard Wainwright 239

Nittany Lion Invitational

1979

Terry Dubois

75-76-74=225 Marshall Invitational

1981

Jim Rider

Nittany Lion Invitational

1979

Dave Lester

76-75-76=227 Eastern Kentucky Invitational 1976

Richard Wainwright 81-80-79=240

John Elwood

80-74-74=228 Colonel Classic (EKU)

Pat Weaver

79-78-83=240 Nittany Lion Invitational

1976

Robert Clark

75-79-74=228 Eastern Kentucky Invitational 1976

Bill Hyre

78-81-81=240 Nittany Lion Invitational

1979

David Lester

78-76-75= 229 Penn State Invitational

Phil Zambos

76-83-81=240 Marshall Invitational

1978

Golf

1976

1979

1975

239

Dave Lester

82-78-80=240 Marshall Invitational

1977

John Elwood

77.73

Spring 1977

Rich Wainwright

79-81-80=240 Nittany Lion Invitational

1979

Patrick Weaver

77.89

Spring 1977

Ed Meador

79-81-80=240 Marshall Invitational

1981

Dan Ackerman

77.92

1980-81

Greg Carudino

80-79-81=240 Nittany Lion Invitational

1980

John Elwood

78.16

Fall 1976

Stan Wiel

79-80-82=241 Nittany Lion Invitational

1980

John Elwood

78.2

Fall 1977

Bill Hyre

80-84-78=242 Marshall Invitational

1980

Mike Tennant

78.30

1980-81

Jeff Rowan

78-84-80=242 Marshall Invitational

1980

Rich Wainwright

78.4

1978-79

Stan Jones

79-81-82=242 Nittany Lion Invitational

1979

Scott Wilson

78.80

1979-80

Stan Jones

81-81-80=242 Marshall Invitational

1979

Pat Weaver

78.80

Fall 1977

Tom Dyer

82-83-77=242 Nittany Lion Invitational

1981

Rich Wainwright

78.93

1977-78

Jeff Rowan

80-82-81=243 Marshall Invitational

1977

Greg Guadino

79.00

1980-81

Neils Christiansen

78-84-84=244 Nittany Lion Invitational

1976

Stan Wiel

79.10

1979-80

Rich Wainwright

80-84-81=245 Marshall Invitational

1979

Pat Weaver

79.20

1977-78

Jeff Rowan

80-87-78=245 James Madison Invitational 1977

Terry Dubois

79.30

1980-81

Stan Wiel

86-81-78=245 Marshall Invitational

1979

Stan Wiel

79.30

1978-79

Rich Wainwright

82-84-79=245 Nittany Lion Invitational

1980

Greg Guadino

79.60

1978-79

Dave Lester

81-82-82=245 Penn State Tournament

1977

David Lester

79.70

Spring 1977

Dave Lester

245

Nittany Lion Invitational

1979

Jeff Rowan

79.73

Spring 1977

Hank Seidel

81-78-87=246 Nittany Lion Invitational

1976

Jeff Rowan

79.90

1978-79

Pat Weaver

82-85=79=246 Marshall Invitational

1978

Jeff Rowan

80.40

1979-80

Rich Wainwright

79-82-86=247 James Madison Invitational 1977

Root Clark

80.41

Fall 1976

Scott Wilson

79-88-81-248 James Madison Invitational 1977

Randy Wampler

80.50

1979-80, 1978-79

Richard Wainwright 85-82-81=248 Marshall Invitational

1977

Robert Clark

80.60

Fall 1977

Scott Wilson

86-81-83=250 Nittany Lion Invitational

1980

Robert Clark

80.60

Spring 1977

Randy Wampler

80-88-84=252 Marshall Invitational

1980

Tim Dyer

80.62

1980-81

Greg Rohanna

81-89-82=252 Nittany Lion Invitational

1976

Rich Wainwright

80.62

Fall 1976

Stan Jones

83-90-81=254 James Madison Invitational 1977

Phil Zambos

80.64

1977-78

Jeff Rowan

83-83-89=255 Marshall Invitational

1978

James Rider

80.37

Spring 1977

Ed Meador

90-82-84=256 Nittany Lion Invitational

1981

Scott Wilson

80.80

1978-79

Terry Dubois

75-82-83=256 Nittany Lion Invitational

1981

William Hyre

81.30

1979-80, 1978-89

Bill Hyre

86-89-81=256 James Madison Invitational 1977

Richard Wainwright 81.70

Spring 1977

Shipman

87-84-87=258 Eastern Kentucky Invitational 1976

Mark Greer

82.00

1908-81

Jeff Rowan

82.50

1977-78

Season Average

Ed Meador

82.69

1980-81

Name

Avg. Rounds Year

Stan Weil

83.20

1977-78

Dan Ackerman

76.0

1979-80

Stanley Jones

83.85

Spring 1977

Dan Ackerman

76.90

1978-89

Tom Dyer

85.80

1980-81

Dave Lester

77.16

Fall 1976

Jim Rider

86.3

Fall 1977

Dave Lester

77.2

Fall 1977

Jim Rider

86.55

Fall 1976

John Eldwood

77.33

1977-78

Rich Wainwright

77.70

1979-80

WVUGolf @WVUGolf

Opponents

Series Records vs. Opponent

American

Opponent

1 0 0 1968

Muskingum

1 0 0 1976

Baldwin-Wallace

1 0 0 1961

Navy

0 1 0 1951

Baltimore

2 0 0 1977

Northern Illinois

0 1 0 1965

Bowling Green

0 1 0 1977

Ohio

8 21 1

1951

Bucknell

1 0 0 1969

Penn State

1940

California (Pa.)

Series Began

18 3 0 1947

Pitt

38 26 6

Series Began

1933

Carnegie-Melon

9 2 1 1933

Quantico

1 0 0 1950

Catholic

2 0 0 1971

Richmond

7 1 0 1952

Clarion

3 3 1 1968

Robert Morris

1 0 0 1977

Davidson

0 2 0 1957

St. Vincent

1 0 0 1972

Davis & Elkins

Salem

1 0 0 1972

Steubenville

1 0 0 1969

1934

Duquesne

16 1 1 1933

Edinboro

3 1 0 1971

Slippery Rock

Fairmont State

4 0 2 1934

Virginia

0 2 0 1952

Frostburg State

2 0 0 1972

VMI

4 7 0 1954

Furman

0 1 0 1957

Virginia Tech

0 16 10

Geneva

9 0 0 1947

Washington & Jefferson 16

1934

Georgetown

2 2 0 1948

Washington & Lee

1952

1946

1959

George Washington 15 4 3 1950

Waynesburg

18 2 0 1936

Glenville State

4 1 0 1972

West Liberty State

Hampden Sydney

0 1 0 1976

Westminster

12 4 1 1946

Indiana Univ. (Pa.)

Case Western

4 0 0 1949

Juniata

6 0 0 1956

West Virginia Wesleyan

Lock Haven

1 0 0 1973

Wheeling

7 0 0 1965

Mansfield State

1 0 0 1975

William & Mary

Maryland

2 4 0 1948

Youngstown State

4 0 0 1955

Mercyhurst

1 0 0 1977

Non Intercollegiate

5 3 0 --

Miami (OH)

0 0 1 1967

Totals

Golf

1964

290 178 21

1962

1947

1952

Information GENERAL

President E. Gordon Gee �� Director of Athletics Shane Lyons �� Intercollegiate Athletics Staff �� Media Guidelines �� Athletic Facilities ��

44 45 46 47 48

E.GORDON Gee PRESIDENT

Dr. E. Gordon Gee is one of America’s most prominent higher education leaders, having helmed universities for more than three decades. In 2009, Time magazine named him one of the top 10 university presidents in the United States. In 2014, Gee returned to West Virginia University, where his career as a university president began. His leadership goals include putting students first, advancing the University’s research agenda, partnering with West Virginia communities and making sure that 1.8 million West Virginians know in their hearts and minds that West Virginia University is their university. Born in Vernal, Utah, Gee graduated from the University of Utah with an honors degree in history and earned his J.D. and Ed.D. degrees from Columbia University. He clerked under Chief Justice David T. Lewis of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals before being named a judicial fellow and staff assistant to the U.S. Supreme Court. In this role, he worked for Chief Justice Warren Burger on administrative and legal problems of the Court and federal judiciary. Gee returned to Utah as an associate professor and associate dean in the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University, and was granted full professorship in 1978. One year later, he became dean of the West Virginia University College of Law, and, in 1981, was named West Virginia University president. He served in that role until 1985. He went on to lead the University of Colorado (1985-1990), Brown University (1998-2000) and Vanderbilt University (2001-07). He served as president of The Ohio State University from 1990 to 1997 and again from 2007 to 2013. Gee has served on several educationgovernance organizations and committees, including the Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents, the Inter-University Council of Ohio, the Business-Higher Education Forum and the American Association of Universities. He was chair of the American Council on Education’s Commission on

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Higher Education Attainment and served as co-chair of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities’ Energy Advisory Committee. In 2009, King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia invited him to join its international advisory board. Active in many national professional and service organizations, he has served on the boards for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., Limited Brands and the National 4-H Council. In 2011, Gee began serving as secretary on the Board of Directors of Ohio’s economic development program, JobsOhio. In 2011-2012, Governor John Kasich asked him to chair the Ohio Higher Education Capital Funding Collaborative and the Ohio Higher Education Funding Commission. In December 2012, he began serving on the Columbus Education Commission. And in March 2015, he was elected to the board of directors of the American Council on Education, the nation’s largest higher education organization. Gee has received many honorary degrees, awards, fellowships and recognitions. He is a fellow of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest science organization. In 1994, Gee received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Utah, as well as from Teachers College of Columbia University. In 2013, he received the ACE Council of Fellows/Fidelity Investments Mentor Award and the Outstanding Academic Leader of the Year Award on behalf of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is the co-author of 11 books, including Law, Policy and Higher Education, published in 2012. He has also authored many papers and articles on law and education. Gee’s daughter, Rebekah, is the Medicaid Medical Director for the State of Louisiana, and an assistant professor of Public Health and Medicine at Louisiana State University. She is also a Norman F. Gant/American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology/IOM Anniversary Fellow. Dr. Rebekah Gee is married to David Patrón, and they have five children.

President E.GordonGEE shares a hug with a recent WVU graduate

SHANELyons DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

West Virginia native Shane Lyons was named director of Intercollegiate Athletics and associate vice president at West Virginia University in January 2015. Lyons came to West Virginia after spending three years as the deputy director of athletics and chief operating officer at Alabama where he worked closely on day-to-day strategic leadership and direction with Alabama athletic directors – the late Mal Moore and current athletic director Bill Battle. At WVU, Lyons has oversight of 18 varsity sports, a department budget of approximately $80 million, 220 employees, approximately 450 student-athletes and a facilities master plan that included the opening of a $21 million baseball park and more $75 million to modernize other athletic venues in the next three years. During his time at Alabama, his responsibilities included oversight of a $120 million budget, daily monitoring of compliance and oversight of the Crimson Tide’s 21 sports teams. In addition, he played a pivotal role in a historic renegotiation of Alabama’s multimedia rights agreement that started in 2014 and was involved in several significant capital projects totaling more than $85 million. The Crimson Tide won seven national titles in five different sports during his time there – two in football, two in men’s golf, one in women’s golf, one in gymnastics and one in softball. He also played a critical role in the hiring of four Alabama head coaches. Prior to joining the Alabama staff in November 2011, Lyons spent 10 years as an associate commissioner at the Atlantic Coast Conference. At the ACC, Lyons focused on conference-wide compliance and academic initiatives, providing direct assistance to the conference’s presidents, chancellors and athletics directors in matters dealing with NCAA regulatory matters. In addition, he served as the ACC’s human resource manager and was responsible for the administration, negotiation and mediation of the employee benefits program and managing the conference’s organizational policies and procedures. He was part of the administrative team for ACC events, including the football championship game, the men’s basketball tournament and men’s and women’s NCAA basketball events. He also was a member and served as chairman on many prominent committees within the NCAA Governance structure during his tenure with the ACC. Prior to working at the ACC, Lyons served as associate athletics director for compliance at Big 12 member Texas Tech from 1998 to 2001. During that time, Lyons assumed responsibility for the leadership, administration and implementation of a comprehensive NCAA compliance program with emphasis toward rules education and extensive monitoring systems. He also served as oversight administrator for several of the Red Raiders’ athletic teams and had financial and operational supervision of the strength and conditioning, nutritional and sports medicine units. Before joining Texas Tech, Lyons worked at the NCAA for almost 10 years as a senior membership services representative, where he was responsible for the oversight and coordination of the 25 membership service representatives. Lyons began his career in college athletics in July 1988 as assistant commissioner of the Big South Conference. With the Big South,

he was in charge of conference-wide compliance and championships. A native of Parkersburg, West Virginia, and a graduate of Parkersburg High, Lyons was a standout basketball player for the Big Reds. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sport management from WVU in 1987 and 1988, respectively. He and his wife, Emily, a graduate of the University of WisconsinMadison, have two children: Cameron, 16, and Brooke, 12. Lyons is the University’s 12th athletic director.

Shane Lyons through the Years:

1988-89 Big South Conference (Assistant Commissioner for Compliance and Championships) 1989-98 NCAA (Senior Membership Services Representative) 1998-2001 Texas Tech (Associate Athletic Director – Compliance) 2001-11 Atlantic Coast Conference (Associate Commissioner – Compliance and Governance) 2011-15 Alabama (Deputy Director of Athletics) 2015-present West Virginia (Director of Athletics and Associate Vice President)

The LyonsFAMILY: Emily, Cameron, Shane and Brooke

WVUGolf @WVUGolf

ChrisWILLIAM

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West Virginia University Intercollegiate Athletics

KeliCUNNINGHAM

Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director

MattBORMAN

TerriHOWES

Senior Associate Athletic Director/ Development

Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman’s Administrator

BradyROURKE

Associate Athletic Director/Student-Athlete Development

MichaelSZUL

Senior Associate Athletic Director/Business Operations

MichaelFRAGALE

Associate Athletic Director/ Communications

JoeHESKETT

BenMURRAY

Associate Athletic Director/Sports Performance

Associate Athletic Director/Major Gifts & Capital Campaigns

MattWELLS

DiaFORTNEY

LaceyGIBSON

AprilMESSERLY

BryanMESSERLY

Associate Athletic Director/ External Affairs

Assistant Athletic Director/Business Operations

Assistant Athletic Director/Compliance

Assistant Athletic Director/Facilities & Operations

Assistant Athletic Director/ Communications

West Virginia University KevinMILLER

NathanielZINN

Assistant Athletic Director/Annual Fund

Assistant Athletic Director/Marketing

JasonBUTTS

MikeCAREY

SeanCLEARY

Women’s Basketball

Cross Country/Track

BobHUGGINS

JimmyKING

Men’s Basketball

Rowing

Gymnastics

Head Coaches

NikkiIZZO-BROWN

Women’s Soccer

SeanCOVICH

JonHAMMOND

SammieHENSON

Men’s Golf

Rifle

Wrestling

MarlonLEBLANC

MihaLISAC

RandyMAZEY

VicRIGGS

ReedSUNAHARA

Men’s Soccer

Tennis

Baseball

Swimming and Diving

Volleyball

DanaHOLGORSEN

Football

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WVU Athletic

Facilities Cary Gym

Monongalia County Ballpark

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Basketball Practice Facility

Caperton Indoor Football Facility

Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium

Dreamswork Field

Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium

Mountaineer Tennis Courts

Mountaineer Track

WVU Boathouse

WVU Coliseum

WVU Natatorium

WVU Rifle Range

WVU Wrestling Pavilion