Vince Jarrett Named Golf Coach
7/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
July 10, 2003
HOUSTON - University of Houston Athletics Director Dave Maggard has named Houston native and former Cougar golfer Vince Jarrett as the school's men's golf coach. A 1976 UH graduate, Jarrett comes to Houston after serving as the head golf coach at Abilene Christian University for the past 18 seasons.
"I am really pleased that we were able to attract a coach of Vince's capabilities," Maggard said. "He knows the Houston area, and he has a great feel for our program after playing here and graduating from UH.
"I feel that he has the maturity and yet the enthusiasm to recruit players and teach them how to reach greater heights. I think he will re-establish our program to a much higher level than it has been in recent years."
Jarrett played golf at Houston under the tutelage of former Cougar legendary coach Dave Williams. Surprisingly, it was upon a recommendation by Williams that Jarrett went to Abilene Christian in 1986. He spent the next 18 seasons turning the school into a NCAA Division II powerhouse. Yet, Houston was the one school at which he always dreamed of coaching.
"It's something that I have wanted to do for a long time, and I am very excited to be returning to Houston," Jarrett said. "This is a great opportunity for me personally, and I am coming home. It is the only job I would have left ACU to take."
Under Jarrett's direction, the Wildcats won the 1993 NCAA Division II Championships and seven Lone Star Conference championships. He took Abilene Christian to either NCAA Regional or National tournaments in 16 of his 18 seasons.
Golf Week and Bridgestone named Jarrett the 1993 NCAA Division II Coach-of-the-Year after he lead the Wildcats to the NCAA Division II Championship. Abilene Christian also finished in the Top 10 at the national tournament on eight other occasions under his direction. The Wildcats finished third in 1991, fifth in 1995 and 1997, sixth in 1989 and 1992, seventh in 1987 and 1990 and eighth in 1996. In addition, he led the Wildcats to seven Lone Star Conference championships.
Abilene Christian won LSC championships in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1995 with Jarrett at the helm. The Wildcats were the runner-up team at the conference tournament in 1990, 1992, 1996, 2001 and 2003. He was named LSC Coach-of-the-Year four times and the District 6 Coach-of-the-Year six times.
Jarrett coached 27 different Wildcats to 40 All-America honors, and 14 of his student-athletes were named to Academic All-America teams.
One of his players, Jeev Singh, won the NCAA Division II individual title in 1993, and is now a touring pro on the European and Nation Wide tours. Other former Wildcats who are now touring pros include Marcus Cain (Australian and Canadian tours), and Jeff White and Steve Johnson on mini-tours across the United States.
More than 10 of his former players have become club pros, including former all-America Donny Darville at Inwood Forest Country Club in Houston and Scott Cory at Canyon Springs Country Club in San Antonio.
In each of the last three seasons, one of Jarrett's players has qualified to compete at individuals at the NCAA Championships. Pierre Gothels qualified in 2003 after he was the medallist at the South Central Regional Championships. Brian O'Leary qualified in 2002 and was a member of the Lone Star Conference's 2003 All-Academic Team. James Fleming qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2001 and finished 26th.
In addition to coaching at ACU, Jarrett also served on the NCAA Golf Committee from 1992-2001, and was the committee's chairman from 1998-2001. In addition, he was the Golf Coaches' Association Division II representative to the NCAA from 1996-99.
Jarrett left UH and was a member of the PGA Tour from 1967-75. Later, he served as a club pro at three country clubs in Houston (Westwood, River Bend and Inwood Forest) before moving to Abilene Christian. Jarrett is still a current Class A member of the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA).
He and his wife, Pat, have a daughter, Lisa, and a son, Justin, both of whom are married. Jarrett replaces Mike Dirks, whose contract was not renewed following the 2002-03 season.