Clarksville, TN – Just what does a college golf coach do? Drive the van? Arrange the practice rounds? Hang out in the clubhouse playing gin rummy and drinking tea while the kids are playing? Not hardly.
In a sport that generates no revenue for the University, and very few headlines unless they’re winning, being the head coach of a golf team is typically a fairly annonymous title. Unless you’re a big fan of Austin Peay, you probably don’t even know who the mens golf coach is.
Meet Kirk Kayden.
Kirk Kayden
On Monday, our sister website, www.clarksvillesportsnetwork.com, will take a look at Kirk Kayden and the APSU men’s golf team as they prepare for the 2013 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. A team that’s won three tournaments this year, and five in the last 12 months. A team that has talent, leadership, and a burning desire to beat anybody who wants to “tee it up.”
A team that’s not afraid of the darkest night, and still carries a chip on its shoulder from last years OVC tournament, where the golf govs came up one shot short of a title.
Kayden has been at Austin Peay for nine years, taking over a program that had won three consecutive OVC Championships (2001-2003) and has led the team to 36 program records in his time here. Before coming to APSU, Kayden helped lead Penn State to three straight NCAA regionals, including a 15th place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2004.
When Kayden was hired to replace Mark LaRue, the reaction was pretty universal among the governor faithful.
“Really? Penn State has a golf team?”
What he’s done since his arrival is nothing short of spectacular. Managing egos and parents who wonder why their little “Tiger Woods” isn’t playing all the time.
Meet Kirk Kayden as he talks about this year’s team, and what it’s going to take to win the OVC Tournament and get to the NCAA Tournament.
Monday, at Clarksville’s exclusive all sports website, www.clarksvillesportsnetwork.com
