Jonathan Dismuke Tabbed to Head Men's Golf Program
7/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
July 15, 2009
HOUSTON - After helping lead a team to the 2009 NCAA Division I national championship, former Texas A&M assistant coach Jonathan Dismuke was introduced as the University of Houston men's golf head coach, director of athletics Mack Rhoades announced Wednesday. Dismuke, who became the sixth coach in program history, joins the Cougars after helping lead the Aggies to their first NCAA golf national title in late May with a 3-2 win against Arkansas in the final match.
He played a key role in advising Bronson Burgoon, who hit a 125-yard gap wedge from the deep rough far to the right of the fairway to within three inches of the 18th hole at Inverness Golf Club to clinch the match for the Aggies. Writers with Golfweek magazine called it "one of the best shots in college golf history."
Dismuke joins a golf program that historically has ranked among the best in NCAA history, winning 16 NCAA team national championships and eight NCAA individual national crowns. The program also has produced 19 team conference champions and 20 individual conference champs and 44 All-America honorees while former Cougars on the PGA Tour have won more than $73 million during their careers.
"Much of what attracted me to the University of Houston is the past success of the golf program," Dismuke said. "It is one of the most decorated programs in collegiate golf history, and I am excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this special program."
With an award-winning background as both a student-athlete and coach, Rhoades said Dismuke stood out as the right man to lead the Cougar program.
"Jonathan is regarded as a rising star in the business, a quality individual and will serve as a great role model for our student-athletes as he helps to prepare them to be champions for life," Rhoades said. "He truly cares about the total well being of his student-athletes and demands excellence from them in all areas of their lives. I am thrilled he and his fiancée Maggie are joining the Houston Athletics family."
The support he received from Rhoades and other UH Athletics administrators also made the decision to head to UH simple for Dismuke.
"My decision was made easy by the administration at Houston," Dismuke said. "With the hiring of (director of athletics) Mack Rhoades and after talking with other administrators, they made my decision to pursue this job an easy one."
Prior to joining Texas A&M, Dismuke served as an assistant coach at Mississippi from 2006 to 2008. During the 2006-07 season, he helped lead the Rebels to the NCAA East Regional and a fourth-place showing at the SEC Championship.
A native of Calhoun, Miss., Dismuke has a decorated background on the course. He was the 1997 Mississippi State Junior Champion and was the Mississippi Junior Player of the Year in 1998.
As a four-year letterman at Auburn, he competed in four NCAA Regionals and three NCAA Championships and was a member of the 2002 Tiger team that won the SEC championship. He served as the Tigers' team captain for his final three seasons from 2002 to 2004.
His individual career was highlighted by numerous top-five showings, including a third-place finish at the 2004 NCAA Regional. That same season, he earned All-SEC honors and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
His amateur career included a victory at the Greystone Invitational (Birmingham, Ala.), where he set the competitive course record (65) and the tournament scoring record (202). He also set the Course Record at Mobile Country Club (Mobile, Ala.) en route to a third-place finish at the 2003 Labor Day Invitational.
Dismuke qualified for the 1999 USGA U.S. Public Links Championship and the 2002 and 2004 U.S. Amateurs.
In addition, he played two years of professional golf on the NGA Hooters Tour and received the NGA Golf Achievement Award in 2005. He also attended the PGA Tour Qualifying School in 2004 and 2005.
Dismuke received his bachelor's degree in education from Auburn in 2004.
He is engaged to marry Maggie Bussman in November.
Dismuke replaced Vince Jarrett, whose contract was not renewed in early May.
In making the first hire of his tenure as UH director of athletics, Rhoades also gave special thanks to the search committee comprised of associate athletics director/senior woman administrator DeJuena Chizer, associate athletics director for development Katina Jackson, associate athletics director for compliance Kevin Fite and University of Houston Golf alumni Paul Marchand and Trey Wilkinson.
"I appreciate all their hard work and dedication to the process," Rhoades said.
QUICK FACTS ON JONATHAN DISMUKE
PERSONAL
Full Name: Jonathan McKinley Dismuke
Hometown: Calhoun City, Miss.
Birthdate: Nov. 19, 1980
Pronunciation: Diz-Muke (as in mute)
EDUCATION
Auburn • B.S. in education • 2004
FAMILY
Engaged to Maggie Bussmann with November wedding planned
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2008-09 • Assistant Coach • Texas A&M
2006-08 • Assistant Coach • Mississippi
COACHING HONORS
2009 NCAA Division I national champions
2008 Jan Strickland National Assistant Coach of the Year finalist
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
2001-04 • Four-year letterman at Auburn
PLAYING HONORS
Competed at three NCAA Championships (2002, 2003, 2004)
Competed in four NCAA Regionals (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
Member of 2002 SEC Championship team
Tied for third at 2004 NCAA East Regional
2004 All-SEC
2004 SEC Academic Honor Roll
Served as team captain for three years (2002-04)
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT JONATHAN DISMUKE
Houston Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades
"We are very excited to announce Jonathan Dismuke as our new men's golf head coach. He is a proven winner in all areas of life, having demonstrated great leadership as both a player and a coach. Jonathan made a significant positive impact while serving as an assistant coach at both the University of Mississippi and Texas A&M University.
"He is regarded as a rising star in the business, a quality individual and will serve as a great role model for our student-athletes as he helps to prepare them to be champions for life.
"Coach Dismuke truly cares about the total well being of his student-athletes and demands excellence from them in all areas of their lives. He not only asks this of his players but leads by example. I am thrilled both Jonathan and his fianceé Maggie are joining the Houston Athletics family."
Texas A&M Head Coach J.T. Higgins
"Jonathan is passionate about his job and as hard a worker as I have ever seen. Houston hired the complete package, who can do everything. He will make the current players on the team better, and he will bring in talented players. Houston has one of the best young coaches in the country coming to work for them."
"We are very happy and excited for Diz and Maggie but at the same time we are sad to see them go. He is one of the best young coaches in the country. Diz is a tireless worker, a terrific recruiter and a good communicator. We are thankful for the year he gave to Texas A&M and wish him the best of luck at Houston." Note: Dismuke served as an assistant coach at Texas A&M in 2008-09, when the Aggies won the NCAA Division I national championship
Mississippi Head Coach Ernest Ross
"Jonathan will bring a lot of enthusiasm and ability. He has always been great with player relations and seems to get the most out of his players. In addition, I expect him to do a great job with alumni and booster relationships, bringing back the winning tradition to Houston golf." Note: Dismuke served as an assistant coach at Mississippi from 2006 to 2008.
Arkansas Head Coach Brad McMakin
"Jonathan is the best assistant coach in the country. He knows talent, is a hard worker and will be dedicated to UH. He wants to bring championships back to the UH program. There is no doubt that his dedication and motivation will get things turned around quickly. UH hired the best guy in the business for the job."
Former UH Golfer and Current Shadow Hawk Golf Club General Manager Paul Marchand
"In hiring Jonathon Dismuke, the University of Houston Athletics Department has signaled it is time to bring some new hardware to the trophy case. He has exceptional skills to bring to a program with a storied past at a time when it needs help.
"He is an exceptional young man with solid performances everywhere he has been -- a college golfer at Auburn, an assistant coach at Mississippi, and most recently an assistant coach at Texas A&M. Jonathon has the coaching talent and competitive passion that I predict will be the foundation of success for the next chapter in Cougar Golf."