This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
ASU gets proven talent in new coach Thurmond


Top Dog at Washington couldn’t resist siren call of Sun Devils’ program By John Davis


T


o say that coaching is in Matt Thurmond’s blood might be an understatement. “When my brother and I were


kids, my father was our coach in all of our sports,” Thurmond said. “I think he was feeding me Vince Lombardi quotes when I was still in the womb.” Thurmond, who started his own


coaching career right after finishing his college playing career at BYU, took over this season as men’s golf coach at Arizona State, succeeding Tim Mickelson as head of one of the top programs in the country. He came to Tempe after 15


seasons at Washington, where he created a perennial power with 12 NCAA Championship appearances and seven top-10 finishes. Thurmond led Washington to three Pac-12 titles, was a two-time conference Coach of the Year and, in 2009, was named Golfweek magazine’s National Coach of the Year. He also coached three players who ascended to No. 1 in the world amateur rankings. Joining Thurmond on the staff is


assistant coach Van Williams, who spent three years as an assistant coach at Oregon, which won this year’s NCAA team and individual (Aaron Wise) titles. “Matt Thurmond’s background at


Washington and his record of success is right in line with the direction we are headed with the men’s golf program,” ASU Athletics Director Ray Anderson said in announcing the hire in July. It was a bittersweet move


for Thurmond, who is a native of Burlington, Wash. “I love Washington and have my


life invested there,” he said. “But when the ASU position became available, I realized this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I have so much esteem for ASU and this program and its history.


26 | AZ GOLF Insider | FALL 2016 cutline here


It’s not about being better than Washington; it’s just a unique place and a unique opportunity to make an impact in a program that is truly one of a kind.” Any impact this season will


have to be made without three of last season’s top players, who graduated. They included Spaniard Jon Rahm, the only player to receive the Ben Hogan Award as the nation’s best college golfer two years in a row. That doesn’t mean the


cupboard is bare, however. ASU’s roster features three seniors, led by Jarod du Toit, a Canadian who was a second-team All-Pac-12 player last season. It was du Toit who made a splash in his first PGA Tour event in June by playing his way into the final pairing of the final round in the RBC Canadian Open, where he tied for ninth place.


www.azgolf.org


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46