Athletic Director Skip Bertman named former University golfer Chuck Winstead as the men’s golf coach Saturday.
Winstead filled the vacancy left by Greg Jones, who resigned from the position for unspecified reasons on May 31.
“We feel that this is a wonderful opportunity for our men’s golf program to move forward in the years to come under the direction of a man who is recognized as one of the top golf instructors in the country,” Bertman said in a news release. “Chuck is an LSU man and believes strongly in the success of his team as a part of the LSU Athletic Department.”
Golf Digest ranked Winstead as Louisiana’s Best Teacher for 2005-06, and Golf Magazine named him a Top 100 Teacher in the nation for 2005-06.
“As a former player and a graduate of LSU, this is a dream come true for me,” Winstead said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to have the chance to positively influence student-athletes both on and off the course, while building a nationally competitive program.”
The Ruston native golfed for the Tigers from 1989-91 alongside teammates David Toms and Perry Moss, who both went on to the PGA Tour.
“Chuck is someone I have great respect for,” Toms said. “He bleeds purple and gold, and that is what I think we need to turn this program around. I have no doubt that Chuck will lead LSU back into the national picture of college golf.”
Winstead said one of his goals is to rally support from the golf community and golf enthusiasts in the area and have them become part of the program.
Bertman said Winstead and women’s golf coach, Karen Bahnsen, already have worked together on projects over the years at University Club in Baton Rouge, where Winstead is the owner and director of instruction of the Chuck Winstead Golf Academy.
“I’m thrilled to have Chuck join our golf staff at LSU,” Bahnsen said. “It will be a pleasure to have a person of his caliber working with our golf program, and his knowledge and understanding of the game will be a big plus.”
Winstead becomes the sixth head coach at the University also to be an alumnus.
The group includes Bahnsen, gymnastics coach DD Breaux, women’s basketball coach Pokey Chapman, swimming coach Adam Schmitt and men’s tennis coach Jeff Brown.
Winstead was the director of instruction at the English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans before coming to the University Club in 2000.
He spent five years as director of instruction for Golden Bear Golf as part of Jack Nicholas’ Golden Bear International in North Palm Beach, Fla.
Winstead also was a member of the senior management team responsible for developing, managing and initiating the creation of Jack Nicholas Golf Academies worldwide.