Brevard Names Michael Bayne As Head Golf Coach

BREVARD, N.C. -- The Brevard College Athletic Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Bayne as the new men's and women's golf coach for the Tornados. Coach Bayne is relinquishing his day-to-day duties as the Recruiting Coordinator for football and Director of Football Operations for the Brevard College football team, where he has served since 2006.

Bayne is taking over for Coach David Nelson, who is moving to Burlington, N.C. after five years at Brevard College as the men's golf coach, to pursue another passion of his in starting a company focused on the recruitment and placement of international student-athletes at universities in the United States.

"As a child, the first place I ever played golf was at Straus Park, using wooden clubs," commented Bayne, "this is a dream come true to me personally and I appreciate Brevard College's belief in me and look forward to working with our wonderful young athletes."

Coach Bayne is taking over a golf program which finished its first season as official members of NCAA Division II and the South Atlantic Conference, and recently hosted the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Golf Tournament at nearly Etowah Valley Country Club & Golf Resort on April 20-21.

On the men's side, Bayne will be relying on rising senior Thomas Bush, as well as rising sophomores Bret McGaughey, Joshua Davis and Thomas Rennie, to provide stability to his top five, as the Tornados look to improve on a fifth place finish in the SAC tournament.

McGaughey, Davis and Bush all spent time in the top five for Coach Nelson, with Davis finishing in a tie for 21st in the SAC tournament and McGaughey and Bush finishing in a tie for 24th. Rennie was the recipient of the Men's Golf Most Improved Award, given at the Brevard College Athletic Awards Ceremony on May 3rd. The trio of McGaughey, Davis and Rennie was ranked as the #6 freshman class in all Division II.

Zack Christy, Andrew Hall and Mike Jones are also returning to the program and will be expected to challenge to get into the top five.

On the women's side, rising junior Erika Kellems and rising sophomores Alisiya Klochkova and Lucy McNulty return to provide veteran leadership to the women's program, which will be coming into their second year as a program at Brevard College.

Klochkova won the first event of her career, taking medalist honors at the Glen Cannon Fall Invitational held on September 14-15, 2008. McNulty led the team in the SAC tournament finishing in a tie for 22nd, and Kellems was one of the most consistent Tornados golfers throughout the season while playing in the top three for Coach Nelson.

"I am delighted with the new appointment of Coach Michael Bayne as our Head Men's & Women's Golf Coach. Coach Bayne has been a dedicated member of the Tornado staff committed to the overall success of our athletics program," said Kim Pate, BC Athletic Director. "Based on his proven success coaching a multitude of sports, I am excited about his potential to develop our men's & women's golf program into a top conference and regional contender."

Coach Bayne has served in various positions in his career, finishing his 29th season coaching football this past season with the Tornados. Bayne has also served nine years as a head football coach, and has seen his teams establish six state records in South Carolina. He also served as a golf coach for four years, and as the head boy's basketball coach at Garrett Tech, his team set a Guinness World Record for three-point baskets, making 32 in a single game.

In 2005, Bayne was inducted to the WCSC Channel 5 Hall of Fame in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2000, he was named as the Educator of the Year by Mayor Joe Riley's Enterprise Community in Charleston.

Over his coaching career, Bayne has been named Coach of the Year twenty times in various sports, with his teams having won over 500 games.

Bayne lived in Brevard as a child and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. He and his wife Peggy have a sixteen-year old daughter named Nicki.