Golf Coach Jared Purvis

Jared Purvis

Now in his eighth year as head golf coach at Valdosta State, Jared Purvis has built on the Blazers' strong history of success on the links as he has consistently seen his team finish among the top in the nation.

Purvis showed his talent at building nationally competitive teams during the 2007-08 season as he recruited two players who would go on to earn All-America honors at the end of the year. His leadership led Valdosta State to the 2008 Notre Dame de Namur Invitational championship, the fourth time in his career that the Blazers had won a tournament. Additionally, a pair of Blazers claimed individual medalist honors a total of three times on the year. Brent Witcher, who went on to earn First Team All-America honors at the end of the season, claimed a pair of wins on the year at the NSU Shark Invitational and the NDNU Invitational while falling in a playoff for a third victory at the First Federal Southeastern Collegiate. Jason Flowers also earned a victory after rolling to an eight-under 208 at the Rollins Invitational. Joining Witcher in earning All-America status was Cole Willis, who was recognized as honorable mention All-America. Purvis led the Blazers to the fifth NCAA Regional bid in six seasons under his leadership and aided the team in finishing fourth at the Gulf South Conference championships.

Purvis' leadership helped Witcher gain greater noterity at the end of the year as the junior was one of only two NCAA Division II players selected to represent the United States in the Fuji Xerox U.S. vs. Japan Collegiate Cup. Likewise, Witcher also qualifed for the U.S. Amateur Championships after winning a qualifying event.

Purvis' ability to teach the game was again on display in 2008-09 as he once again helped Witcher to an All-America season. The Blazer success on the course continued as VSU finished first in a pair of tournaments, claiming the individual title at the AASU/Southbridge Pirate Invitational while losing in a scorecard playoff at the Dennis Rose Intercollegiate. VSU concluded the season by finishing fourth at the Gulf South Conference Championships before just missing the cut for the national tournament, finishing sixth at the NCAA South/Southeast Super Regional.

Individually, the Blazers continued to add to the number of individual title won under Purvis as Witcher claimed two more individual titles with victories at the AASU/Southbridge Pirate Invitational and VSU's First Federal Southeastern Collegiate. He then capped off the year with the highest honor earned by a Blazer in Purvis' seven seasons as he was named the winner of the Jack Nicklaus Award as the nation's top NCAA Division II golfer. Witcher also earned first team All-Gulf South Conference and was named the league's Player of the Year at the conclusion of the season while Cole Willis earned recognition to the All-GSC second team.

The 2006-07 season proved to be one of VSU's most successful under Purvis as he led his squad to a 17th-place finish in the national rankings. The Blazers won the Coker Fall Preview during the fall of 2006 while his guidance helped a Blazer win a tournament three times, with Josh Tompkins winning the Coker Fall Preview while Jason Flowers claimed medalist honors at the AASU/Pirate Invitational and the Gulf South Conference Championship while losing the Buccaneer Invitational in a playoff. Purvis' squad continued its run at NCAA glory as it reached an NCAA Regional bid and Flowers became the second Blazer to earn All-America recognition under Purvis.

Purvis coached the Blazers to a 24th-place finish in the national rankings in 2005-06 while also receiving a NCAA Regional bid. Purvis' direction led the Blazers and Tompkins to the Saint Leo Fall Preview team and individual titles during the season.

The Blazers also reached NCAA Regionals in 2003-04 and 2004-05 while finishing those years ranked 24th and 32nd, respectively. Purvis' recruiting ability led to his 2003 class being rated third nationally. Additionally, Spencer Provo qualified for the U.S. Amatuer in 2004.

Valdosta State began Purvis' tenure by winning the WCU Intercollegiate Team championship while Chris Erwin claimed the individual medalist honors during the 2002-03 season. Purvis' tutelage also assisted Erwin in reaching the match play in the 2003 U.S. Amateur.

While Purvis' tutelage has aided his team in succeeding on the links, he has also led his golfers to success off the golf course. In 2004, Brian Hurtak was named an GCAA All-American Scholar and was nominated for the NCAA Leadership Award, an honor that Kevin Dutkowsky also received in 2005.

Dutkowsky was named a GCAA All-American Scholar in 2007 while Purvis' squad won the Valdosta State Lamar Pearson Community Service Award for having the most combined community service hours of any VSU team.

In addition to his coaching duties, Purvis has also coordinated the Southeastern Intercollegiate, one of Division II's most prestigious tournaments, in each of the last five years. He also coordinated the 2005 NCAA South/South Central Super Regional.

Purvis also spent three years as a tournament administrative assistant and rules official with the Southeastern Junior Golf Tournament. He received his degree from Troy, where he was a four-year member of the golf team. He also spent two years as the team-elected captain for the Trojans.