Pepperdine’s Michael Beard leads list of National Coach of the Year Award winners

Pepperdine’s Michael Beard highlights the list of Dave Williams National Coach of the Year Award winners.

Like most other sports, the college golf season was ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the cancellations of both the men’s and women’s NCAA Championship, originally scheduled to be held over the last two weeks at Grayhawk Golf Club in Phoenix, end of the year awards are still being announced.

While the Pepperdine men’s team wasn’t able to contend for the national title, senior Sahith Theegala took home the prestigious Haskins Award. Waves head coach Michael Beard earned some hardware, as well.

Six coaches were announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America and Golf Pride Grips as recipients of the Dave Williams National Coach of the Year Award: Beard (Division I), Georgia Southwestern’s Darcy Donaldson (Division II), Jim Ott of Illinois Wesleyan (Division III), Keiser’s Brandon Miller (NAIA), Walt Williams of Midland College (NJCAA Division I) and Darin Pint of Kirkwood (NJCAA Division II).

Beard’s Waves won three events in the shortened 2019-20 season and never finished outside the top five. Georgia Southwestern, Midland and Kirkwood earned four wins, with Illinois Wesleyan and Keiser each winning five times.

Golf Pride Grips Region, District Coaches of the Year

Division I

Northeast – Rob Shutte, Rutgers

East – Jerry Haas, Wake Forest

Southeast – Scott Limbaugh, Vanderbilt

Midwest – Mark Crabtree, Louisville

Central – Greg Sands, Texas Tech

West – Michael Beard, Pepperdine

Division II

East – Joe Tesori, Le Moyne

Atlantic – Dan Braun, IUP

Southeast – Darcy Donaldson, Georgia Southwestern

South – Jimmy Stobs, Barry

Midwest – Mike Horn, Wayne State (MI)

Central – Luke Calcatera, Arkansas Tech

South Central – David Lynn, Oklahoma Christian

West – Matthew Steinbach, Simon Fraser

NAIA

North – Chris Winkel, Grand View

South – Brandon Miller, Keiser

Central – Tom Harp, Wayland Baptist

West – Tina Barrett, Ottawa (AZ)

NJCAA Division I

District I – Zach Smith, Eastern Wyoming

District II – Walt Williams, Midland

District III – Chris Young, Hutchinson

District IV – Dave Jennings, Central Alabama

NJCAA Division II

East – Ronnie Key, Meridian

Central – Corbin Sebens, Parkland

West – Darin Pint, Kirkwood