Xavier University Athletics
Xavier Announces Hire of Brian McCants as Head Men’s Golf Coach
07.15.16 | Men's Golf
McCants joins the Musketeer program from Indiana University
CINCINNATI – Xavier University Athletic Director Greg Christopher has announced the hiring of Brian McCants as head coach of the men's golf program.
"Brian stood out because of the vision he painted for the future of Xavier Golf. His previous head coaching experience, coupled with time at Division I institutions Kansas and Indiana combined for a strong package that we believe fits well at Xavier."
McCants joins the Musketeers from Indiana University, where he spent four seasons as an assistant coach. Prior to his time at IU, McCants was an assistant at Kansas University for a year.
McCants also has previous head coaching experience at Newberry College, where he spent six seasons at the helm.
"I'm really looking forward to coaching here at Xavier. It's been a traditionally strong program here with a lot of accomplishments," said McCants. "I'm looking forward to getting my hands in the dirt and working hard and building on a solid foundation. It's a great opportunity. The Maketewah facility is first-class. Bringing recruits to see that, coupled with the golf course and the tradition is a great opportunity."
While at IU, McCants helped the Hoosiers to four tournament championships and an appearance in the NCAA Regional.
During his sole season at Kansas, the Jayhawks posted three top-five tournament finishes, including a win at the Hawkeye/Great River Entertainment Invitational.
As head coach at Newberry College, McCants guided the Wolves to three South Atlantic Conference Championships and earned the South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year honor in four consecutive years.
McCants' first head coaching role came at Division II Newberry College, where he spent seven seasons and served as head coach for the final six. During that time, he guided Newberry to the NCAA Division II National Championship quarterfinals in 2011, making Newberry College the first South Atlantic Conference team in history to qualify for the NCAA Division II Men's Golf National Championship twice – they also accomplished the feat in 2008.
McCants also coached the first South Atlantic Conference Golfer of the Year in program history in 2011 and three-straight SAC Freshman of the Year winners from 2008 to 2010. Prior to Newberry, McCants was the head men's golf coach at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C.
A 1994 graduate of Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., McCants holds a degree in business administration.
Originally from North Carolina, he comes to Cincinnati along with his wife, Lauren, and 14-month-old son, Charlie.
"Brian stood out because of the vision he painted for the future of Xavier Golf. His previous head coaching experience, coupled with time at Division I institutions Kansas and Indiana combined for a strong package that we believe fits well at Xavier."
"Brian earned the opportunity from a strong field of nearly 80 applicants. [Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services/SWA] Susan Lipnickey was point on the search and talked with a myriad of coaches, administrators and others in the collegiate golf world. Brian's name was one that came up several times. In the end, we interviewed six candidates via Skype and brought finalists to campus over the last few days. A special thanks to Susan for her leadership with this search. The process was thorough and brought forward the best candidates. It's also important to mention others who helped with the interviews and phone calls: Breanna Patz, Jeff Poulard, Doug Steiner and John Burger."
– Xavier Athletic Director Greg Christopher
"I'm really looking forward to coaching here at Xavier. It's been a traditionally strong program here with a lot of accomplishments," said McCants. "I'm looking forward to getting my hands in the dirt and working hard and building on a solid foundation. It's a great opportunity. The Maketewah facility is first-class. Bringing recruits to see that, coupled with the golf course and the tradition is a great opportunity."
"I don't know if anyone has ever taken a Division I and a Division II school to the match play portion of the NCAA Tournament, and that's the goal I'm going to shoot for every year. The goal is to be competitive and to give they guys in the program the opportunity to test their skills against the best across the country. That's what it's all about."
"There's a long list of people to thank, people you come into contact with over the years. I wouldn't be here without the players I've worked with, and the players at Newberry mean the world to me – the guys at KU and the same thing with the guys at IU. [Indiana] Coach [Mike] Mayer, working with him the last four years taught me a lot. John Casey, my Director of Golf at Newberry, was the first one to really give me a chance. And I have the most supportive wife. No one gets to this point without a supportive wife. To have her as my best friend is everything."
– Xavier Men's Golf Head Coach Brian McCants
"Brian stood out because of the vision he painted for the future of Xavier Golf. His previous head coaching experience, coupled with time at Division I institutions Kansas and Indiana combined for a strong package that we believe fits well at Xavier."
McCants joins the Musketeers from Indiana University, where he spent four seasons as an assistant coach. Prior to his time at IU, McCants was an assistant at Kansas University for a year.
McCants also has previous head coaching experience at Newberry College, where he spent six seasons at the helm.
"I'm really looking forward to coaching here at Xavier. It's been a traditionally strong program here with a lot of accomplishments," said McCants. "I'm looking forward to getting my hands in the dirt and working hard and building on a solid foundation. It's a great opportunity. The Maketewah facility is first-class. Bringing recruits to see that, coupled with the golf course and the tradition is a great opportunity."
While at IU, McCants helped the Hoosiers to four tournament championships and an appearance in the NCAA Regional.
During his sole season at Kansas, the Jayhawks posted three top-five tournament finishes, including a win at the Hawkeye/Great River Entertainment Invitational.
As head coach at Newberry College, McCants guided the Wolves to three South Atlantic Conference Championships and earned the South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year honor in four consecutive years.
McCants' first head coaching role came at Division II Newberry College, where he spent seven seasons and served as head coach for the final six. During that time, he guided Newberry to the NCAA Division II National Championship quarterfinals in 2011, making Newberry College the first South Atlantic Conference team in history to qualify for the NCAA Division II Men's Golf National Championship twice – they also accomplished the feat in 2008.
McCants also coached the first South Atlantic Conference Golfer of the Year in program history in 2011 and three-straight SAC Freshman of the Year winners from 2008 to 2010. Prior to Newberry, McCants was the head men's golf coach at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C.
A 1994 graduate of Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., McCants holds a degree in business administration.
Originally from North Carolina, he comes to Cincinnati along with his wife, Lauren, and 14-month-old son, Charlie.
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"Brian stood out because of the vision he painted for the future of Xavier Golf. His previous head coaching experience, coupled with time at Division I institutions Kansas and Indiana combined for a strong package that we believe fits well at Xavier."
"Brian earned the opportunity from a strong field of nearly 80 applicants. [Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services/SWA] Susan Lipnickey was point on the search and talked with a myriad of coaches, administrators and others in the collegiate golf world. Brian's name was one that came up several times. In the end, we interviewed six candidates via Skype and brought finalists to campus over the last few days. A special thanks to Susan for her leadership with this search. The process was thorough and brought forward the best candidates. It's also important to mention others who helped with the interviews and phone calls: Breanna Patz, Jeff Poulard, Doug Steiner and John Burger."
– Xavier Athletic Director Greg Christopher
"I'm really looking forward to coaching here at Xavier. It's been a traditionally strong program here with a lot of accomplishments," said McCants. "I'm looking forward to getting my hands in the dirt and working hard and building on a solid foundation. It's a great opportunity. The Maketewah facility is first-class. Bringing recruits to see that, coupled with the golf course and the tradition is a great opportunity."
"I don't know if anyone has ever taken a Division I and a Division II school to the match play portion of the NCAA Tournament, and that's the goal I'm going to shoot for every year. The goal is to be competitive and to give they guys in the program the opportunity to test their skills against the best across the country. That's what it's all about."
"There's a long list of people to thank, people you come into contact with over the years. I wouldn't be here without the players I've worked with, and the players at Newberry mean the world to me – the guys at KU and the same thing with the guys at IU. [Indiana] Coach [Mike] Mayer, working with him the last four years taught me a lot. John Casey, my Director of Golf at Newberry, was the first one to really give me a chance. And I have the most supportive wife. No one gets to this point without a supportive wife. To have her as my best friend is everything."
– Xavier Men's Golf Head Coach Brian McCants
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