Trevecca Nazarene University

Trevecca Nazarene University athletic director, Mark Elliott, announced the hiring of David Head as the Director of Golf with the Trojans, coaching both men's and women's programs, in December of 2014.

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Head continues the successful winning culture of the Trevecca golf programs collecting four Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championships for the men and women's programs from 2013-2016. With the men's 2019 and 2021 titles, Head has now directed eight teams to G-MAC Championships.

History repeated itself during the 2020-21 season as Head and the Trojans collected yet another Great Midwest Athletic Conference trophy. After a fall season that was highlighted by a pair of G-MAC Player of the Week bids, the Trojans hit the record books early in the spring season. To open, the Trojans won back-to-back tournaments, first the Mississippi College Invite and then the Hermitage Golf Club hosted Music City Invitational. The win for Head at the MCI, made him the winningest coach in program history. After outshooting all opponents by eight strokes in their home tournament, the Trojans played three consecutive tournaments in Lexington, KY where they'd claim their seventh conference title. Led by medalist Ryan Rozic, the Trojans carded a twelve-under-par 284-282-286=852 to win and punch their automatic bid to the Super Regional tournament. At the NCAA Regionals in Kansas City, the Trojans finished t-13th after a 299-288-310=897 outing. In the end, the 2020-21 season saw Blain Turner win Great Midwest Player of the Year, Ryan Rozic claim the conference tournament medal along with Devin Speight and Jonah Manning earn spots on the 2021 All-Conference team. For the third time in his tenure, Head won Great Midwest Coach of the Year.

The 2019-20 season was another historic campaign, but very a different reason. The spring season was cut short due the COVID-19 pandemic which halted collegiate athletics on March 13. Although the shortened year did not allow the Trojans a chance to return to the NCAA National Championships, they did compete in five tournaments. The year opened with a 2nd place finish at the Great Midwest Fall Championship in Owensboro, KY. The Trojans would also finish the Doc Spragg Invitational in Findlay, OH in addition to the Midwest Regionals and the Matt Dyas Invitational in the fall. The spring portion saw the Trojans participate in the Matlock Invitational hosted by Florida Southern, a now household name for Trevecca golf. Before the SVSU Invitational in Lexington, KY was set to begin, the rest of the season was canceled. 

The 2018-2019 season was historic for Head and the men's golf program. The Trojans began the season on a high note claiming their fourth Greystone Cup match play tournament over Union in September. Throughout the course of the fall season, the Trojans finished no worse than sixth in a major tournament. 

Much like the beginning of the fall campaign, the 2019 spring season began with a top finish (2nd) in the Badger Invitational. The historic season continued with the Trojans finishing fifth at the SVSU Invitational held on the Big Blue Course of the University Club of Kentucky in Lexington; a course they would venture three times before the season's close. After a 3rd place result in their home tournament, the Music City Invitational, the Trojans claimed their fourth Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship under Head's guidance. Sophomore Blain Turner tied with Larken Whittemore after the shortened three-day event with Turner claiming the medalist after a playoff. 

From there the Trojans cast their eyes on the Midwest/Central regional tournament where they needed to place in the top six to advance to the NCAA National Championships. After producing a 296-302-287=885 Trevecca finished fifth as a team and clinched its first-ever berth to the NCAA National Championships.

In unprecedented territory at the National Championships, the Trojans began the three-day stroke play portion of the Championships led by senior John Leverton. Leverton, playing his best golf to date, turned in a 70 to lead the Trojans and were in 8th place at the end of the first round. After day two of the Championships, the Trojans were in 10th and needed a strong day three effort to qualify for match play. In season-saving fashion, the Trojans strung together their lowest round of the Championships, a 286 on day three and moved into fifth, good enough to advance to the medal match play of the Championships, a feat only eight teams accomplished.

The Trojans were downed by perennial powerhouse Florida Southern 3-1-1 in the medal match play portion and saw its historic season come to a close. 

In 2018-19, Head directed the Trojans to a program-best 291.74 average score, which is just +4.19 versus par as a team. The Trojans held scoring totals of 3.24 on par-3, a 4.15 on par-4, and a 4.85 on par-5 holes all program bests. With the deep run in the 2019 NCAA National Championships, Head's Trojans finished as the 27th best team in NCAA Div. II golf, the program's highest ever finish. The Trojans eight par or better rounds as a team are a Trevecca record while the team's two wins are tied for most in a season ever. The team produced a record-breaking 394 birdies and 11 eagles this season over a program most 27 rounds played. 

Head has four conference coach of the year awards to date with three consecutive for the women and was tipped at the 2017 men's honoree. 

In addition, Head coached the Great Midwest medalist for the women's tournament three times and the men once. Alexa Rippy won the 2015, 2016, and 2017 Individual Great Midwest Medalist title and Aaron Burnett won the 2016 men's Medalist honor.  

In addition, Rippy advanced to the NCAA Division II Super Regional her final three years culminating with a trip to the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2017. She was joined but the full women's team at the 2016 regional, becoming the first Trevecca and Great Midwest team to do so. 

Rippy became the first Trevecca and Great Midwest Golfer to advance to the region and then national championships.

Rippy rewrote the Trevecca women's golf record books as well as established a high bar for future Great Midwest golfers to shoot for. 

On the men's side, the records have been set high for individuals and teams to meet during the Head era. The team advanced to the regional in 2016 and 2017, a first for Trevecca and Great Midwest teams. 

Prior to Trevecca, Head served as the assistant golf coach for the men's and women's programs at his alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University, in Murfreesboro. The former Blue Raider letterman was in his first season as an assistant for the women's program and his third season as an assistant for the men's program.

Mark Elliott identified Head as a leading candidate from the start, and in the end, it was the clear choice, "Dave was on our radar from the very beginning. He has the spiritual leadership skills we look for and is well-known for his ability to play and teach golf. Beyond that, he comes from a fantastic golf family and has learned from some of the best golf professionals in the business. There is a history of golfing success here at Trevecca and Dave is the right guy to take both programs into the next phase of our NCAA Division II journey."

When David Head returned to MTSU as a volunteer assistant, it was with the hopes that he would find his way to a head coaching position on the collegiate level. His arrival at Trevecca brings that vision to reality, Head said at the time of his hiring at Trevecca, "I'm humbled and honored to be named the Director of Golf at Trevecca Nazarene University. I want to thank Mark Elliott, Dan Boone, and Steve Harris for the wonderful opportunity to be a part of athletic staff at Trevecca."

He was also grateful for the opportunity he received by then MTSU coach Whit Turnbow, "I must thank Whit Turnbow, Christy Adams, and Chris Massaro at Middle Tennessee State for the opportunity that they gave me over the past two and a half years. I learned so much and I can't thank them enough."

Head continued, "I'm excited about being here at Trevecca and I look forward to building on the many successes of the golf programs including but not limited to the coaches I am replacing - Michael Johnson (women) and Robbie Wilson (men). The path they have carried the programs and the current environment will allow the program to succeed for many years to come."

The Director of Golf was created when Robbie Wilson, the former men's golf coach at Trevecca, accepted the head coaching position at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn.  

That move sped up the plan to combine the two golf positions at Trevecca and allow the women's golf coach Michael Johnson to concentrate on his increased role with the university outside of athletics. Johnson, who works in the presidents' office, has recently been named the Director of Alumni and Church Engagement.

Head played for the Blue Raiders from 1993 to 1996 and was part of three consecutive Ohio Valley Conference Team Championships.

David, the son of Blue Raider Hall of Fame Member and National Golf Champion Gary Head, joined the Blue Raiders in 2012 as a volunteer assistant under Head Coach Whit Turnbow. Head held that role before being elevated to full-time status in 2014.

As the son of a PGA professional, Head has had a club in his hand since the age of three. He started playing competitive golf as a junior at the age of ten, and he competed at the state and regional level all throughout his teenage years. 

His golf genes and drive turned into a college scholarship at Middle Tennessee State University in the fall of 1991. 

Head was the team Co-Captain during his senior year for coach Johnny Moore, and was presented the Most Outstanding Student-Athlete Award for golf based upon his leadership skills and dedication to the team.

Following graduation in 1996, Head turned professional with the idea in mind to continue competing while at the same time developing his passion for teaching and coaching the game that he so dearly loves. 

As a playing professional he has earned three wins, several 2nd place finishes, and multiple top 10 finishes in various local and regional competitions. 

In 1998 he qualified for the sectional round of the U.S. Open and missed the trip to the Olympic Club by just two shots.  In 2005, he qualified for the National Club Professional Championship held at the Turning Stone Resort in upstate New York.  

As a golf instructor, Head has the opportunity to teach and coach players of all ability levels, including those competing at the highest levels of amateur golf. He has a passion for learning and motivating students to get the most out of their abilities on and off the golf course.

He was elected to membership of the Professional Golfers Association of America in 2002. 

Head and his wife Cynthia Houston Head reside in Murfreesboro, TN.