The Loop

Class of seven to join GCAA Hall of Fame

October 27, 2009

Seven coaches will be inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America's Hall of Fame Dec. 7 during the GCAA's Annual Convention at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The honorees include four retired coaches and three still actively running programs.

Maxie Boles

Coached at Central Alabama CC from 1965-97, leading them to national junior college championships in 1990, 1996 and 1997.

O.D. Bounds

Considered the father of the NAIA men's golf championship, serving as coach while working as a professor at Texas Wesleyan from 1946-85. His teams won three national titles (1964, 1969, 1975).

Devon Brouse

Led North Carolina to 19 NCAA Championship appearances in 21 seasons before taking over the men's and women's programs at his alma mater, Purdue, in 1998. Six times in his career he has been his conference coach of the year.

Ronnie Choate

After starting the men's golf program at Sam Houston State in 1962, he led the team to four NAIA national championships between 1978-91. Returned to coach again in 2007.

Steve Loy

Started coaching at Scottsdale CC in 1975, winning two NJCAA national titles before eventually moving on to Arkansas (1983-87) and Arizona State (1987-1992). At ASU, the Sun Devils to their first NCAA title in 1990 and he coached Phil Mickelson during his run of three NCAA individual championships.

Delnor Poss

Has been the coach at Midland College since the programs inception in 1978, with his teams winning four NJCAA national titles and qualifying for the national championship 22 straight years.

Ben Thompson

Was the first golf coach at Yale, where he oversaw the Bulldogs' program from 1926-42, winning five NCAA titles. In an era of match-play competition, his squads posted four undefeated and eight one-loss seasons.