The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/846301
30 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK PRESS MCPHAUL Coach • Men's Golf Former head coach Richard Sykes' fingerprints are all over the NCSU men's golf pro- gram. It's impossible to avoid after he served 46 years at the helm, snaring postseason bids nearly every campaign and piloting the program from having no on-campus home course to now enjoying one of the nation's best — the Lonnie Poole Golf Course on Centennial Campus. It's only right that taking over for the Hall of Fame coach is one of his former players, Press McPhaul, a co-captain on the Wolfpack's 1995-96 squad who later served as an assistant under Sykes (1998-2000). McPhaul's senior year marked the Pack's only NCAA Regional title in program history, while he played in a trio of NCAA Championships, including the Pack's eighth-place finish in 1995 which is tied for the best showing in school history. Since leaving Raleigh, McPhaul has been the head coach at Vanderbilt (2000-06) and most recently East Carolina (2007-17), which he led to four NCAA Regionals in 11 years. The Sanford, N.C., native directed the Commodores to its first ever NCAA Championships appearance in 2003 and they returned the following year under his leadership, and he also helped the Pirates make its first trip to the NCAA Championships in 2012. "We are extremely excited that Press has chosen to come home and lead our men's golf program," director of athletics Debbie Yow said after the hiring was made official June 13. "His knowledge and love of NC State, and track record of building programs, make him an ideal fit." McPhaul inherits a talented squad that featured just one senior, three sophomores and one freshman in the NCAA Austin Regional but was a mere five strokes from advanc - ing to the NCAA Championships as a team for the first time since 2011. Stephen Franken was an All-ACC and all-region pick as a sophomore, while Benjamin Shipp joined him on the all-region squad during his debut campaign. Despite not boasting a senior on the 2017-18 roster, McPhaul could be coaching in the NCAA Championships again sooner rather than later. "It's an honor and a privilege to return to Raleigh, to lead the NC State men's golf program, and succeed a Wolfpack legend in Richard Sykes, who I view as both a mentor and friend," McPhaul said. "I am grateful to Debbie for the opportunity to return home and I look forward to the challenge ahead." — Ryan Tice/Photo courtesy NC State media relations (inset courtesy East Carolina) wolfpacker spotlight