Central Michigan University Athletics
Jennings Named Men's Golf Head Coach
10/6/2021 2:53:00 PM | Men's Golf
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Kevin Jennings has been named to coach the Central Michigan men's golf program, Zyzlewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Amy Folan announced today.
"I'm exceptionally excited about the opportunity that has been presented to me by President Robert Davies and AD Amy Folan," said Jennings, a native of Benton Harbor who coached both the men's and women's programs at Prairie View A&M over the past five years. "It's great to return to my home state where I grew up and have so many family members, so many friends, so many memories.
"Central Michigan men's golf is a great opportunity because there is clearly a level of support from the community and the university administration. That support, along with experience, wisdom, and ingenuity will go a long way in making this a long-term competitive and successful program."
At Prairie View A&M in Prairie View, Texas, Jennings led both the men's and women's programs over the past five years. In 2021, he led the Panther men's program to its third consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and subsequent NCAA Regional Tournament berths and guided the Panther women to a program-best runner-up finish in the league tournament.
CMU is relaunching its men's golf program after a 36-year hiatus. The university sponsored men's golf beginning in 1936 and then discontinued it after the 1984-85 season. The Chippewas will begin play in the 2022-23 season.
"We're excited to have coach Jennings join our department and launch our men's golf program," Folan said. "He is a proven leader who has done remarkable things at Prairie View A&M with both the men's and women's programs.
"I was impressed with his track record in building programs at Prairie View A&M and Talladega, and by his vision for our program. He has strong ties in college golf and, having grown up in Benton Harbor, is well aware of how fantastic the Michigan golf community is and will help build a strong relationship with that group.
"The response to our new program has been tremendous with program supporters, local and statewide golf courses, and new initiatives like our partnership with First Tee-Greater Detroit."
In May, Jennings guided the Prairie View A&M men's team to the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
In 2018, Jennings was honored with the Mark Leasch Award, which goes to the program that shows the improvement over the course of a given season and is awarded by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
During Jennings' time at Prairie View A&M, 16 of his student-athletes earned All-SWAC honors, two earned the SWAC Freshman of the Year Award, and more than 30 were named to the SWAC Commissioner Honor Roll.
Jennings served as the men's golf coach at Arkansas Pine Bluff in 2016, as the head coach/resident center manager at Talladega (Ala.) College, and as the head men's and women's golf coach at Le Moyne-Owen College in Memphis.
He has also served as a volunteer assistant coach at Christian Brothers (Tenn.) University, a student assistant coach at Mississippi Valley State, and as a fulltime golf instructor in Tennessee, California and Nevada.
He holds an accounting degree from Mississippi Valley State and a degree from the Golf Academy of America. He is working toward a master's of community development at Prairie View A&M.
Jennings also serves as chairman of the SWAC golf coaches committee and is on the board of the BCGCA (Black College Golf Coaches Association). He also serves on the advisory board for the PGA Works Championship and is a member of the Golf Coaches Association of America, where he serves on the diversity council.
"Kevin Jennings has a proven track record in program building," said Dustin Roberts, deputy director of the GCAA. "He engages with the community and, as a Michigan native, is an outstanding fit to the new era of Central Michigan Golf. I'm excited to watch their progress."
Community service has been an important part of his leadership at Talladega, UAPB and PVAMU. He will be charged with continuing to build CMU's existing partnership with First Tee-Greater Detroit.
"This a great addition to the CMU Athletics program and I look forward to working with coach Jennings and the men's golf team as our First Tee-Greater Detroit programs grow and serve more youngsters in Detroit and beyond," said Lawrence J. Burns, chairman of First Tee-Greater Detroit.
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"I'm exceptionally excited about the opportunity that has been presented to me by President Robert Davies and AD Amy Folan," said Jennings, a native of Benton Harbor who coached both the men's and women's programs at Prairie View A&M over the past five years. "It's great to return to my home state where I grew up and have so many family members, so many friends, so many memories.
"Central Michigan men's golf is a great opportunity because there is clearly a level of support from the community and the university administration. That support, along with experience, wisdom, and ingenuity will go a long way in making this a long-term competitive and successful program."
At Prairie View A&M in Prairie View, Texas, Jennings led both the men's and women's programs over the past five years. In 2021, he led the Panther men's program to its third consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and subsequent NCAA Regional Tournament berths and guided the Panther women to a program-best runner-up finish in the league tournament.
CMU is relaunching its men's golf program after a 36-year hiatus. The university sponsored men's golf beginning in 1936 and then discontinued it after the 1984-85 season. The Chippewas will begin play in the 2022-23 season.
"We're excited to have coach Jennings join our department and launch our men's golf program," Folan said. "He is a proven leader who has done remarkable things at Prairie View A&M with both the men's and women's programs.
"I was impressed with his track record in building programs at Prairie View A&M and Talladega, and by his vision for our program. He has strong ties in college golf and, having grown up in Benton Harbor, is well aware of how fantastic the Michigan golf community is and will help build a strong relationship with that group.
"The response to our new program has been tremendous with program supporters, local and statewide golf courses, and new initiatives like our partnership with First Tee-Greater Detroit."
In May, Jennings guided the Prairie View A&M men's team to the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
In 2018, Jennings was honored with the Mark Leasch Award, which goes to the program that shows the improvement over the course of a given season and is awarded by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
During Jennings' time at Prairie View A&M, 16 of his student-athletes earned All-SWAC honors, two earned the SWAC Freshman of the Year Award, and more than 30 were named to the SWAC Commissioner Honor Roll.
Jennings served as the men's golf coach at Arkansas Pine Bluff in 2016, as the head coach/resident center manager at Talladega (Ala.) College, and as the head men's and women's golf coach at Le Moyne-Owen College in Memphis.
He has also served as a volunteer assistant coach at Christian Brothers (Tenn.) University, a student assistant coach at Mississippi Valley State, and as a fulltime golf instructor in Tennessee, California and Nevada.
He holds an accounting degree from Mississippi Valley State and a degree from the Golf Academy of America. He is working toward a master's of community development at Prairie View A&M.
Jennings also serves as chairman of the SWAC golf coaches committee and is on the board of the BCGCA (Black College Golf Coaches Association). He also serves on the advisory board for the PGA Works Championship and is a member of the Golf Coaches Association of America, where he serves on the diversity council.
"Kevin Jennings has a proven track record in program building," said Dustin Roberts, deputy director of the GCAA. "He engages with the community and, as a Michigan native, is an outstanding fit to the new era of Central Michigan Golf. I'm excited to watch their progress."
Community service has been an important part of his leadership at Talladega, UAPB and PVAMU. He will be charged with continuing to build CMU's existing partnership with First Tee-Greater Detroit.
"This a great addition to the CMU Athletics program and I look forward to working with coach Jennings and the men's golf team as our First Tee-Greater Detroit programs grow and serve more youngsters in Detroit and beyond," said Lawrence J. Burns, chairman of First Tee-Greater Detroit.
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