The chance to replace Coleman Houk as golf coach at Kansas Wesleyan was one Wes Lawhorn could not refuse.
Lawhorn spent the 2023-24 season as Houk's assistant coach but stepped back in the fall of 2024 to focus on his duties as Director of Golf at Salina Country Club. He continued to assist the KWU program in an advisory role.
Then came Houk's decision to leave coaching at the end of the fall semester. KWU did not have to look far for a new coach.
"The opportunity to come back was obviously a no brainer," said Lawhorn who was hired in December. "We have a great group of athletes and definitely have the opportunity to have a really successful season."
Familiarity with the program and the athletes have made things easier.
"I think that there's a learning curve with everything transitioning from how they used to know me as assistant coach to then being in the golfing community for the last semester and now back as head coach," he said. "I think every head coach runs his or her program a little bit differently than the last one, but it has definitely made the transition a lot smoother stepping in and knowing the majority of the kids on the roster."
Lawhorn will continue to work at SCC but that won't be an issue as it is the Coyotes' home course and practice venue.
"I think it's positive on both sides," he said. "We have tons of members and people in the community that love golf, and they also love Kansas Wesleyan. Me being the guy that's running the counter, running tournaments at the country club full time and also being the one who's taking the kids on trips to play this tournament season is nice."
MEN'S TEAM
The Coyotes enter the season ranked 21st in the NAIA after placing second in the Kansas Conference Championships last spring.
Lawhorn is counting on two veterans to pave the way in 2025 - junior Jackson Malone and sophomore Hank Reeg. Reeg placed 11th and Malone 16th in the 2024 conference championship.
"Our one-two punch has solidified itself," Lawhorn said. "They both stroke-averaged 72 or better and qualified for every event that we played in the fall."
There's depth and talent behind Malone and Reeg in sophomore Joey Wisocki, senior Tyler Tarvin and junior Doak Neill. Tarvin placed 13th in the KCAC meet last spring.
"(Wisocki's) dad actually played at Marymount College back in the day and was a golf professional at Salina Country Club so he has some deep Salina roots," Lawhorn said. "He's been really consistent, and he'll be making this first trip down to Dallas. Tarvin has come on really strong over the last couple of months and has been a consistent figure over the last four seasons for us. Neill has seen a lot of varsity action as well."
Freshmen Hunter Newell and Logan Smith made their presence known during the fall.
"Newell won four state championships at Sacred Heart and his swing's looking really good right now," Lawhorn said. "Excited to get him back out on the grass when the snow clears. Smith shows a lot of promise. He was number two in our qualifying when we were able to get a couple rounds in between the blizzard."
Lawhorn said the preseason competition has been fierce.
"Having 20 guys on the roster there's not a huge difference between our one and our 20th bag so it makes qualifying very tough at times," he said. "Lot of guys that are all equal and contributed to our success. It really all goes back to the great job that Coleman's done in recruiting over the last five to six seasons."
WOMEN'S TEAM
The Coyotes qualified for the 2024 NAIA National Championships by winning the KCAC for the third time in four years.
Three golfers return led by senior Abby Donovan who placed second in the KCAC, senior Sarah Krenowicz was fourth and junior Chaney Littell was 17th.
"We look to Abby to be the leading voice on that women's team," Lawhorn said. "All three of those ladies qualified for all of our varsity events in the fall. They are a good, consistent pillar."
A trio of sophomores - Kelsey Essex, Magen Dow and Ryann Warren - will likely round out the lineup according to Lawhorn.
"All of those ladies saw varsity time last semester and were within two to three strokes of each other," he said. "We've got a really good talented group one through six. Really excited to see what our team can do as they go back and try to repeat as conference champions then have some success at the national tournament."
SCHEDULE
KWU opens the season Monday and Tuesday at the Friends Invitational that will be played in Dallas. The Coyotes have played just two rounds outside this semester because of the winter weather but have found ways to hone their skills.
"I can't speak enough to the university and the resources they've given us as far as having an indoor facility on campus and also our partnership this winter with Clubhouse Golf in downtown Salina," Lawhorn said. "That allows us to come in and get about three to four hours of practice in every day in a simulator and it's really got our guys improving."
The Friends tournament includes some top men's teams in the NAIA.