SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. … Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced that six outstanding collegiate golf coaches earned the Eaton Golf Pride Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award, presented by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). Jeff Fiorini, general manager of Eaton’s Golf Grip Division, will present the coaches with their awards during the Hall of Fame Banquet at the GCAA Convention on December 6.
Josh Gregory of Augusta State University, Tim Poe of the University of Central Missouri, Steve Conley of Methodist University, Kyle Blaser of Oklahoma City University, Dave Jennings of Central Alabama Community College, and Jake Harrington of South Mountain Community College will receive the prestigious 2010 Eaton Golf Pride Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award.
Gregory honored as Division I Coach of the Year
Josh Gregory of Augusta State University was named the Divison I Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the Year. Over his first eight seasons, Gregory has produced eight All-American selections, five Cleveland Golf All-American scholars, 11 All-South Region picks and 10 NCAA All-Independent selections along with six Palmer Cup team selections as well as two Walker Cup selections and a Ryder Cup selecÌâåÂtion.
Under Gregory’s leadership, Augusta State won four tournaments this season, including the NCAA Championship. The Jaguars also claimed victories at the Brickyard Collegiate Championship, Seahawk Intercollegiate and Administaff ASU Invitational. Augusta State was runner-up at the NCAA Southwest Regional and earned five other top five finishes.
“It’s been an incredible ride and it truly is an honor to get recognized for this award,” said Gregory. “All the credit goes to the players. They really had a phenomenal year.”
University of Central Missouri’s Tim Poe wins Division II Coach of the Year award
Tim Poe of the University of Central Missouri has taken home the Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the Year Award for Division II. Poe, who has been the University of Central Missouri head golf coach for 20 years, has been named the MIAA Coach of the Year 10 times, and is a six-time recipient of the Eaton Golf Pride Regional Coach of the Year Award.
In 2010 he led the Mules to their highest national finish in school history, finishing second in the nation at the Division II Championships in Noblesville, Indiana. The finish was also the highest in MIAA history. The Mules won the Super Regional crown for the first time in school history as well, and qualified for nationals for the second time in as many seasons. Central Missouri won eight of the 12 tournaments they played in this season with only one finish outside of the top four.
GCAA honors Methodist University Skipper Steve Conley as Division III Coach of the Year
Steve Conley, who led the Monarchs to the 2010 national championship, was named the Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the Year Award for Division III. The Monarchs have finished in the nation’s top five in 22 of 23 seasons since Conley came onto the scene in 1987. Highlighting the success are national championships in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2010 plus three national runner-up finishes, nine third-place finishes and three fourth and fifth-place finishes at the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
Conley has been named Coach of the Year in both Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the USA South Athletic Conference 17 times, Eaton Golf Pride Regional Coach of the Year 14 times, and Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the year four times. He has produced nine individual national champions, 38 All-Americans and 11 Academic All-Americans.
Blaser wins NAIA Coach of the Year award for Oklahoma City University
Kyle Blaser of Oklahoma City University was named the Eaton Golf Pride NAIA National Coach of the Year by the GCAA. Kyle Blaser led the Stars to their seventh NAIA championship this season, capturing a single-season school-record nine victories in 12 events, including the national championship and the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships. Oklahoma City attained the No. 1 ranking in the fall and held it throughout the season, and has won more than 65 tournaments under Blaser.
“It is an honor to be selected by your peers for this award,” said Blaser. “This award really belongs to the school and the players and is a true testament to the program.”
Jennings brings Coach of the Year award to Central Alabama Community College
Dave Jennings, who reinstated the Central Alabama golf program in 2001, was named the Eaton Golf Pride NJCAA Division I Coach of the Year. Jennings has led Central Alabama to six region championships during that time and has finished in the top 10 at the NJCAA Division I National Championships in that stretch. A three-time Eaton Golf Pride Region Coach of the Year, Jennings has co-hosted the last three NJCAA Division I Championships, serves as president of the NJCAA Division I Coaches Association and has served as the NJCAA Representative At-Large to the GCAA since 2007.
Jennings led Central Alabama to four wins during 2009-2010, including victories at the Wallace State Fall Invitational, FSCC Spring Invitational, 9th Annual Goose Pond Spring Fling and the NJCAA Division I Region XXII Championship. The Trojans placed in the top 10 in every event this season and only finished out of the top five three times.
Harrington wins NJCAA Division II Coach of the Year award for South Mountain Community College
During the 2009-2010 season, Jake Harrington led the Cougars to 8 out of 12 tournament wins for the second year in a row, including the NJCAA Division II National Championship. In addition to being named recipient of the Dave Williams Award presented by Eaton Golf Pride as national coach of the year, Harrington was named the National Coach of the Tournament at the NJCAA Division II National Championship and the Eaton Golf Pride Western Region Coach of the Year Award.
Eaton’s Golf Grip Division is the world’s largest manufacturer of golf grips, with manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities on five continents. The division’s Golf Pride brand is recognized globally as the number one choice in grips among tour and recreational players, competitive amateur golfers, club manufacturers and club repairmen. For more information, visit www.golfpride.com.
Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with 2009 sales of $11.9 billion. Eaton is a global technology leader in electrical components and systems for power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 70,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.
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