Jim Bob Coleman Hired to Coach MSUB Men’s Golf (9/10/05)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State University-Billings Director of Athletics Dr. Gary Gray announced Saturday that Jim Bob Coleman has been hired as the school’s head men’s golf coach.  Coleman will begin immediately.

“We are thrilled for Jim to take over our men’s golf program,” said Gray.  “He has a wealth of professional playing experience, he has coached a top ranked college team, and I believe he will be an outstanding asset to our student-athletes.  Our men’s golf program has taken great strides in the past couple years, and I expect Jim to continue that progress.”

A native of Spokane, WA, Coleman spent two years as the head men’s and women’s coach at Lewis-Clark State from 2000 to 2002.  In 2002 he had the top ranked men’s team in the NAIA much of the season and led them to a sixth place finish at the national tournament.  Coleman was named NAIA Coach of the Year in 2002.

Since 1995 Coleman has played on a variety of professional tours, including the Canadian Tour, the Gateway Tour, the Cascade’s Tour, and the Hooters Tour.  He is currently participating on the Canadian Tour.  Coleman has also been a golf professional at Clarkston Country Club in Clarkston, WA, and at The Briarwood in Billings.  The Briarwood is the Yellowjackets’ home course.

The Yellowjackets open their fall season September 19 and 20 at the Cameron University Invitational in Lawton, OK.  There are four official events scheduled for the fall in addition to the Billings Collegiate Cup against Rocky Mountain College.  The Billings Cup does not count as an official NCAA scoring event.  The Yellowjackets have five tournaments scheduled for the spring leading up to the Heartland Conference Championships on April 16-18.