Fred Jefferson closed out an impressive 25-year run as head coach of the Wright State golf team at the end of the 2008-09 season.

During his tenure, Jefferson led the Raiders to five NCAA appearances and six conference titles and was named coach of the year five times.

It started before the Raiders went to Division I, WSU Hall of Famer John Traugh competed as an individual at the 1986 Division II NCAA Nationals. In 1987, the team qualified for the Division II Nationals and finished in 11th place.

The program continued to grow after Wright State moved to Division I. In 1989, current PGA tour member Frank Lickliter became the first individual to make an appearance for the Raiders in a NCAA D-I tournament. The following year, the Raiders as a team made their first Division I NCAA tournament appearance.

Wright State made three more trips to NCAA regional tournaments with Jefferson as coach--2000 in Fresno, California; 2003 in Manhattan, Kansas; and 2004 in Sunriver, Oregon. The Raiders won six conference championships under Jefferson, starting with the Mid-Continent Conference in 1993 before moving to the Horizon League (formerly the Midwestern Collegiate Conference) and winning the title five times in 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2004.

Coach Jefferson was named the WSU Coach of the Year four times in 1987, 1988, 1997 and 2003.


Jefferson Superlatives

High Conference Finishes
Mid-Continent
1993 First (Coach of the Year)
1994 Second

MCC/Horizon League
1995 Second
1996 First (Coach of the Year)
1997 First (Coach of the Year)
1999 Second
2000 First (Coach of the Year)
2002 Second
2003 First (Coach of the Year)
2004 First
2005 Second

Department Coach of the Year: 1987, 1988, 1997 and 2003

Player Highlights in Pros
Frank Lickliter: 1989 NCAA Tournament participant; currently on PGA Tour
Matt Sharkey: Played professionally on Nike Tour; Greensboro Open of PGA Tour
Heath Wassen: Honda Classic of PGA Tour
Jimmy Henderson: US Open of PGA Tour
Sam Arnold: PGA Championship Tournament

HL Conference Newcomer of the Year: 1995-Jon Eggleton; 1996-Scott Hailes; 1997-Joe Osmon; 2000-John Schones; 2003-Marty Miller; 2004-Brandon Knutson

Mid-Continent Medalist: 1993-Sam Arnold

HL Player of the Year (started in 2002): 2002-John Schones; 2003-Jesse Hutchins

HL Medalists: 1996-Scott Hailes; 1997-Pete Samborsky; 2000-Billy Day; 2002-Jesse Hutchins; 2006-Brandon Knutson

Mid-Continent All Conference Players: 1993-Sam Arnold, Kevin Jones; 1994-Derek Beaulieu

HL All-Conference: 1995-Jon Eggleton, Kevin Jones; 1996-Scott Hailes, Joe Moore, Jon Eggleton, Pete Samborsky; 1997-Pete Samborsky, Jon Eggleton, Scott Belair, Joe Osmon; 1998-Junichi Hayashi; 1999-Joe Osmon, Jim Henderson; 2000-Billy Day, John Schones, Joe Osmon; 2001-Jesse Hutchins, John Schones; 2002-John Schones, Jesse Hutchins; 2003-Jesse Hutchins, John Schones; 2004-Brandon Knutson, Marty Miller; 2005-none; 2006-Tyler Miskell; 2007-Brandon Knutson; 2008-Tyler Miskell; 2009-Charlie Doll

HL All-Tournament (started in 2001): 2001-Jesse Hutchins; 2002-Jesse Hutchins, Andrew Lewis; 2003-Jesse Hutchins, John Schones, Marty Miller, Jason Williams; 2004-Tate Prows; 2005-Brandon Judy; 2006-Brandon Knutson; 2007-Brandon Knutson; 2008-none; 2009-Charlie Doll

League Records:
Lowest Team Score: 850, Wright State in 2000
Lowest Individual Score: 210 by Billy Day in 2000 and Brandon Knutson in 2002 (4-way tie)
Lowest Team Round: 277, Wright State in 2000
Lowest Individual Score: 66 by Billy Day in 2000 (3-way tie)

Wright State Highlights:
Low Round: 201 (-12) Jesse Hutchins (68-69-64) in 2002
Low Score: 64 (-7) Jesse Hutchins in 2002 and 65 (-7) Brandon Knutson in 2006

Dr. Carl Benner Scholar Athlete Awards:
1987: Matt Sharkey; 1988: Rom Kamm; 1998 and 1999: Steve Ray

Don Mohr Athlete of the Year Awards:
1979: Tim O'Neal; 1990: Frank Lickliter; 2003: Jesse Hutchins