Proven Winner & Teacher: Van Williams Named as Lyons Family Men’s Golf Associate Head Coach
7/11/2024 8:43:00 AM | Men's Golf
Coach Van Williams brings a unique combination of experience and has a background in the state of North Carolina that makes him an excellent fit at Wake Forest University.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- In the continued effort to provide a World Class Student-Athlete Experience and help its student-athletes Win Championships, veteran Demon Deacons head coach Jerry Haas has tabbed proven winner and current Wofford men's golf head coach Van Williams as the Deacs' Lyons Family Men's Golf Associate Head Coach, as announced by Wake Forest Athletics on Wednesday.
"I am humbled and thankful for the opportunity Coach Haas is giving me to coach alongside of him," Williams said. "I am excited to be a part of the history and legacy of Wake Forest golf and look forward to getting to work!"
"We are very happy to announce that Van Williams will be joining us as the Lyons Family Men's Golf Associate Head Coach at Wake Forest," head coach Jerry Haas said. "Van brings a ton of experience to the position and will be a great fit for Wake Forest University. He has proven to be a great coach with an NCAA Championship at Oregon, the Wofford Men's Golf Head Coach the last four years and had other assistant coaching stints at Arizona State, NC State. Having an older veteran team like we will have next year, this will be a seamless transition for the players. We are looking forward to a great 2024-25 season with Van playing a key role in our success. Go Deacs!"
Williams joins the Winston-Salem Community following a three-year stint as the head coach with the Terriers where he led Wofford to two team titles and had four players capture individual titles. Additionally during his tenure in Spartanburg, S.C., the Terriers had 4 SoCon All-Conference selections and 2 SoCon All-Freshman selections. Meanwhile off the course, 9 players were named to Southern Conference Spring Academic All-Conference Teams between 2021 and 2024.
Overall, Williams has 21 years of coaching experience including the last 11 being a Division I golf head coach and assistant coach. The highlight of his coaching career came in 2016 when he helped Oregon win the NCAA Championship and the Ducks had two All-Americans, including Aaron Wise who was crowned the 2016 NCAA Individual National Champion. Additionally, he has recruited 20-plus top-100 players.
Notable individuals he tutored who went on to earn their PGA Tour card include:
Prior to joining the coaching staff at Wofford, Williams was the associate head coach at NC State for three years. During his time in Raleigh, Williams helped guide the Wolfpack to two top-25 campaigns, including an appearance at the 2017 NCAA Championship. Additionally, NC State won four tournament team titles and six individual titles.
Before his arrival at NC State, Williams spent four seasons in the Pac-12 – three in Eugene with the Ducks and the 2016-17 campaign as an assistant at Arizona State.
During his lone season in Tempe, Williams helped tutor a Sun Devil lineup that featured three freshmen and a sophomore to an NCAA Championship berth. The Sun Devils ended the season with two tournament wins and four individuals claimed medalist honors.
In addition to the aforementioned National Championship during his final season at Oregon, Williams helped develop six All-Pac-12 players. In his three years as an assistant at Oregon, Williams helped guide the Ducks to three NCAA Championship appearances, including the 2016 national title, as well as eight total tournament titles.
During the 2014-15 season, Williams helped coach the Ducks to five tournament victories, the second-most wins in a season in program history, as Wise took home two individual tournament titles, while Lim collected one title. The Ducks finished second at the 2016 Pac-12 Championship and competed at the NCAA Championships for a second consecutive season.
Prior to his time at Oregon, Coach Williams was the head coach at Wake Tech Community College in Raleigh from 2011-13. He led the Eagles to their first National Junior College Athletic Association ranking after the NJCAA Tournament in 2013.
In addition to his coaching experience, Williams served as a caddie for Casey Martin (2002-04) on the PGA and Nationwide tours, and Aaron Wise (2015-16) at the 2016 U.S. Open and 2015 U.S. Amateur.
About Wake Forest Men's Golf
During their 2024 campaign, the Wake Forest men's golf team made their 48th NCAA Championship appearance, which marks the most appearances in ACC history and are tied for the 10th most in NCAA history.
This marked the 13th NCAA Championship appearance under the direction of head coach Jerry Haas including the fourth in the last five years. The Deacs have finished inside of the top 10 four times under Haas' direction including making match play during the 2019 NCAA Championship and finishing tied for third in 2006.
Additionally, the Deacs made their 25th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance at the 2024 Austin Regional, finishing in fifth place.
Senior Michael Brennan became the 24th ACC Individual Championship winner from Wake Forest. In the 70 ACC Championships that have been held, the Deacs have accounted for over a third of the individual titles, the most in conference history and 10 more than the next closest conference member:
ACC Individual Champions by School (includes ties)
Wake Forest Individual Titles
Both Michael Brennan and Scotty Kennon were selected to the 2024 All-ACC Team and 2024 NCAA Division I PING All-Region Team.
In addition to on-course success, 2024 All-ACC Academic team honors were claimed by four Demon Deacons. Michael Brennan was honored by the league for the fourth consecutive year, while rising senior Collin Adams and rising sophomores Tom Haberer and Kyle Haas were honored for the first time.
In the fall, the Deacs claimed the team title at the Highlands Invitational, and Michael Brennan took home the individual title after completing the tournament at 12-under-par. The Deacs shot 31-under-par as a team and tied Missouri for first place in Chicago.
Junior Scotty Kennon captured his first collegiate title at the Calusa Cup, as he set a new tournament record, shooting six-under par. Kennon tallied 14 birdies on the tournament, and he was one of just six players to finish under par in the 42-player field. Additionally, he topped the Demon Deacons on the leaderboard after every round at the Calusa Cup.
Over the course of the 2024 season, the Deacs claimed thirteen top-10 finishes and five top-3 finishes.
"I am humbled and thankful for the opportunity Coach Haas is giving me to coach alongside of him," Williams said. "I am excited to be a part of the history and legacy of Wake Forest golf and look forward to getting to work!"
"We are very happy to announce that Van Williams will be joining us as the Lyons Family Men's Golf Associate Head Coach at Wake Forest," head coach Jerry Haas said. "Van brings a ton of experience to the position and will be a great fit for Wake Forest University. He has proven to be a great coach with an NCAA Championship at Oregon, the Wofford Men's Golf Head Coach the last four years and had other assistant coaching stints at Arizona State, NC State. Having an older veteran team like we will have next year, this will be a seamless transition for the players. We are looking forward to a great 2024-25 season with Van playing a key role in our success. Go Deacs!"
Williams joins the Winston-Salem Community following a three-year stint as the head coach with the Terriers where he led Wofford to two team titles and had four players capture individual titles. Additionally during his tenure in Spartanburg, S.C., the Terriers had 4 SoCon All-Conference selections and 2 SoCon All-Freshman selections. Meanwhile off the course, 9 players were named to Southern Conference Spring Academic All-Conference Teams between 2021 and 2024.
Overall, Williams has 21 years of coaching experience including the last 11 being a Division I golf head coach and assistant coach. The highlight of his coaching career came in 2016 when he helped Oregon win the NCAA Championship and the Ducks had two All-Americans, including Aaron Wise who was crowned the 2016 NCAA Individual National Champion. Additionally, he has recruited 20-plus top-100 players.
Notable individuals he tutored who went on to earn their PGA Tour card include:
- Aaron Wise (2018 PGA Rookie of the Year)
- Norman Xiong
- Jared du Toit
- Kevin Yu
- Stephen Franken
- Benjamin Shipp
- Cameron Sisk
Prior to joining the coaching staff at Wofford, Williams was the associate head coach at NC State for three years. During his time in Raleigh, Williams helped guide the Wolfpack to two top-25 campaigns, including an appearance at the 2017 NCAA Championship. Additionally, NC State won four tournament team titles and six individual titles.
Before his arrival at NC State, Williams spent four seasons in the Pac-12 – three in Eugene with the Ducks and the 2016-17 campaign as an assistant at Arizona State.
During his lone season in Tempe, Williams helped tutor a Sun Devil lineup that featured three freshmen and a sophomore to an NCAA Championship berth. The Sun Devils ended the season with two tournament wins and four individuals claimed medalist honors.
In addition to the aforementioned National Championship during his final season at Oregon, Williams helped develop six All-Pac-12 players. In his three years as an assistant at Oregon, Williams helped guide the Ducks to three NCAA Championship appearances, including the 2016 national title, as well as eight total tournament titles.
During the 2014-15 season, Williams helped coach the Ducks to five tournament victories, the second-most wins in a season in program history, as Wise took home two individual tournament titles, while Lim collected one title. The Ducks finished second at the 2016 Pac-12 Championship and competed at the NCAA Championships for a second consecutive season.
Prior to his time at Oregon, Coach Williams was the head coach at Wake Tech Community College in Raleigh from 2011-13. He led the Eagles to their first National Junior College Athletic Association ranking after the NJCAA Tournament in 2013.
In addition to his coaching experience, Williams served as a caddie for Casey Martin (2002-04) on the PGA and Nationwide tours, and Aaron Wise (2015-16) at the 2016 U.S. Open and 2015 U.S. Amateur.
About Wake Forest Men's Golf
During their 2024 campaign, the Wake Forest men's golf team made their 48th NCAA Championship appearance, which marks the most appearances in ACC history and are tied for the 10th most in NCAA history.
This marked the 13th NCAA Championship appearance under the direction of head coach Jerry Haas including the fourth in the last five years. The Deacs have finished inside of the top 10 four times under Haas' direction including making match play during the 2019 NCAA Championship and finishing tied for third in 2006.
Additionally, the Deacs made their 25th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance at the 2024 Austin Regional, finishing in fifth place.
Senior Michael Brennan became the 24th ACC Individual Championship winner from Wake Forest. In the 70 ACC Championships that have been held, the Deacs have accounted for over a third of the individual titles, the most in conference history and 10 more than the next closest conference member:
ACC Individual Champions by School (includes ties)
- Wake Forest, 24
- North Carolina, 14
- Georgia Tech, 11
- Clemson, 8
- Duke, 6
- NC State, 6
Wake Forest Individual Titles
- Bill Haas (10)
- Gary Hallberg (9)
- Curtis Strange (8)
- Michael Brennan (8)
- 1954 Arnold Palmer
- 1957 John Gerring
- 1959 Ronnie Thomas
- 1960 Ronnie Thomas (2)
- 1962 Ken Folkes
- 1963 Jay Sigel
- 1964 Dennis Milne
- 1966 John Harris
- 1967 Charles Snipes
- 1968 Jack Lewis
- 1969 Lanny Wadkins
- 1970 Kent Engelmeier
- 1972 Jim Simons
- 1973 Jay Haas
- 1974 Bob Byman
- 1975 Curtis Strange
- 1977 Scott Hoch
- 1978 Scott Hoch (2)
- 1980 Gary Hallberg
- 1989 Tim Straub
- 2004 Sean Moore
- 2008 Webb Simpson
- 2023 Michael Brennan
- 2024 Michael Brennan
Both Michael Brennan and Scotty Kennon were selected to the 2024 All-ACC Team and 2024 NCAA Division I PING All-Region Team.
In addition to on-course success, 2024 All-ACC Academic team honors were claimed by four Demon Deacons. Michael Brennan was honored by the league for the fourth consecutive year, while rising senior Collin Adams and rising sophomores Tom Haberer and Kyle Haas were honored for the first time.
In the fall, the Deacs claimed the team title at the Highlands Invitational, and Michael Brennan took home the individual title after completing the tournament at 12-under-par. The Deacs shot 31-under-par as a team and tied Missouri for first place in Chicago.
Junior Scotty Kennon captured his first collegiate title at the Calusa Cup, as he set a new tournament record, shooting six-under par. Kennon tallied 14 birdies on the tournament, and he was one of just six players to finish under par in the 42-player field. Additionally, he topped the Demon Deacons on the leaderboard after every round at the Calusa Cup.
Over the course of the 2024 season, the Deacs claimed thirteen top-10 finishes and five top-3 finishes.
Players Mentioned
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