Penley Selected for College Golf Hall of Fame

Nov. 19, 2003

Clemson golf coach Larry Penley has been selected for induction into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame. The announcement was made Wednesday and the induction ceremonies will take place in Orlando, FL January 28, 2004 at the GCAA Hall of Fame.

Penley is one of three coaches who will be inducted. The others are Herb Page of Kent State and Fred Warren of East Tennessee State. The GCAA Hall of Fame began in 1980. Selection criteria not only includes a coach’s record on the golf course, but his contributions to the game, student-athletes and school.

“This is a great honor,” said Penley. “It is a reflection of our players and the program in general. I can’t say enough about the players and the families we have had in our program over he years. I just happen to be the guy who has reaped the benefits.

“I don’t feel like a Hall of Fame coach,” said Penley, who is just 44-years-old. ” I still have a lot to accomplish.”

Clemson is currently ranked third in the nation and has three returning All-Americans from its 2003 National Championship team. Last year’s team was honored this past Monday, along with other spring sports NCAA Champions, at the White House by President George Bush.

Penley led the Tigers to the school’s first National Championship in 2003. He was named the Eaton Golf Pride Dave Williams National Coach of the Year. He led the Tigers to victories in the ACC tournament, the NCAA East Regional and the NCAA Championships, the first coach to win his conference, regional and national tournaments in the same year.

The 1982 Clemson graduate and former All-ACC golfer for the Tigers has guided Clemson to seven ACC titles and six NCAA regional championships. His teams have finished in the final top five seven times and he has had 17 top 20 finishes in his 20 seasons at the helm. He has been named ACC Coach of the Year and NCAA District Coach of the Year five times each.

His players have won many national honors. The native of Dallas, NC has coached 46 All-Americans in his 20 years, including 13 first-team selections. He has coached the National Player of the Year (D.J. Trahan in 2002), a US Amateur Champion (Chris Patton in 1989) and an NCAA Champion (Charles Warren, 1997). He has coached 10 Academic All-Americans, including recent on-the course All-Americans D.J. Trahan and Jonathan Byrd.