Press McPhaul was named head men's golf coach at East Carolina University on Jan. 26, 2006. In his first season as head coach at ECU, McPhaul guided Andre Thorsen to an All-Conference USA season and coached Tripp Brizendine to all-freshman team honors. The Pirates posted a .625 winning percentage in his first year, tallying 94 head-to-head wins against just 56 losses. McPhaul officially assumed his position at ECU after the completion of the 2006 spring season in which he completed his fith season as head coach at Vanderbilt. In five years as Vanderbilt's head coach, McPhaul led the Commodores to three consecutive NCAA Regional Tournament team berths, a first in school history, and a pair of NCAA Championship Tournament showings in 2003 and 2004. Since the 2000 season, Vanderbilt has been represented in NCAA Regional play each year by team or individual participation, and has finished in the top four at the Southeastern Conference Championships twice in the last four years. In addition, the Commodores have also won four regular season tournaments during the McPhaul era and have been ranked among the nation's best teams. McPhaul has helped Vanderbilt continue to add to its outstanding facilities by overseeing the installation of the new two-acre Varsity Practice Facility at its own Vanderbilt Legends Club Course in August, 2004. Recognized as one of the best recruiters in the country, McPhaul has coached student-athletes that have received four All-America and four Academic All-America selections. Current Commodore Luke List earned All-America honors as a freshman and has played in three professional majors (two U.S. Opens and one Masters), as well earning second-place honors at the 2004 U.S. Amateur. McPhaul has also been adept at developing talent, overseeing the transformation of Brant Snedeker to become one of the nation's elite golfers during the 2002 season. Snedeker earned first-team All-America honors and was named SEC's Golfer-of-the-Year in 2002. Other Vanderbilt "firsts" since McPhaul's arrival include the program's first All-America selection (Snedeker/2002, 2003) and first All-SEC player (Snedeker/2001, 2002, 2003). McPhaul also helped Mark Donnell tie for medalist honors in just his third collegiate tournament at The Adams Cup. A native of Sanford, N.C., McPhaul played at North Carolina State from 1991-96. He was a member of the Wolfpack's NCAA Tournament teams which finished eighth in 1995 and won the 1996 East Regional. The 1996 co-captain also participated in three NCAA tournaments (1993, 1995, 1996). Most recently, McPhaul has been a contender in a variety of major amateur tournaments, mostly in Tennessee and North Carolina. McPhaul is married to the former Lynn May of Farmville, N.C., and the couple has a two daughters, Anna (3) and Emma (1). |
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