JUCO Golf: MCC's Covich hired at Mississippi State

Meridian Community College head golf coach Sean Covich, left, discusses a put with MCC freshman All-American Jake Stirling during last week's NJCAA Div. I National Championship in Odessa, Texas. Covich is leaving MCC after five years to become the assistant coach at Mississippi State University

By Daniel Rigdon / Sports Writer

MERIDIAN — If today were any other day Meridian Community College golf coach Sean Covich would be on the road hitting the recruiting trail to draw in the newest Eagle linksters.

However, today isn’t another day. Today is the day after he got a phone call that has fast-tracked his dream. The call – from Mississippi State — officially made him the full-time assistant golf coach for the Bulldogs. The dream – coaching at a Southeastern Conference institution — came true in that moment, as he will return to the school where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sports administration. It’s also the school he’s rooted for since age 5.

“It's a blessing and an honor,” Covich said Tuesday. “It's something that when I started coaching that I was trying to work towards. I didn't know if I would ever get the opportunity, especially at an SEC school. Hopefully I will do a good job for them.”

Covich's departure now leaves MCC searching for two new coaches. Covich’s announcement followed Jeff Walker’s abrupt departure as basketball coach a few weeks ago after only one year. Covich also served as sports information director for MCC.

Although Covich is parting ways with MCC after coaching the team for five years, he said this could not have been possible had he not become an Eagle first. Covich played golf for MCC under Lou Hart during the 1998-2000 seasons.

“First of all I just have to thank MCC because without them this wouldn't be possible and I wouldn't be at this point in my life,” Covich said. “It's a great program. Coach Hart did a great job building this program before I came in. I wouldn't be here without coach Hart or Meridian Community College.”

Since 2006, when Covich took the reigns of the program, he has led Meridian to four NJCAA National Championship tournaments, as well as a runner-up finish in 2010. Brandt Garon of Baton Rouge, La., arguably Covich’s biggest recruit, also won a national championship in 2010 and was named the top JUCO golfer in the country in 2011 after the Eagles finished seventh in the national tournament in windy West Texas last week.

“He’s the reason I came to MCC,” Garon said Tuesday after hearing the news. “It was just his kindness, genuineness and the excitement he showed for the program. He just had this look that you knew he intended to build a championship program. He poured his heart into the program and to all of the guys. It was a great decision for me to come to MCC and play for him."

Garon is one of four Eagle sophomores who signed with four-year universities; he will head back to his home state in the fall to play for the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

Covich said he’s proud of his time at MCC, especially the move two years ago from Division II to Division I.

“I feel like we've just got MCC to being a bigger part of the national golf scene,” said Covich.

Covich won't have much time to relish the moment. He starts his new job on July 1 and will have to hit the recruiting trail immediately to look for new talent for MSU.

“Yeah it's happening fast,” said Covich of the quick transition. “But I guess that's the way it is in the coaching world and in the SEC. Right now is the biggest time of the recruiting process in golf with all the tournaments going on.”

Covich steps in at the perfect time, as the Bulldogs will have a brand new practice facility completed in September where he can continue doing what he started at Meridian

Eagles struggle on Day Two, fall to 11th

(ODESSA, Texas) – The Meridian Community College Eagles struggled to a second round 304 team score on Wednesday in the NJCAA Division I Men’s Golf National Championship.

The Eagles were once again led by sophomore Brandt Garon. The defending national champion shot 3-over on Wednesday and is now at 3-over for the tournament after rounds of 72-75.

Sophomore Adam Monsen is 5-over for the event with rounds of 73-76.

Freshman Jake Stirling is 7-over par with rounds of 75-76.

Freshman Easton Key is 9-over par after rounds of 77-76, while sophomore Clemens Dvorak is also 9-over par with rounds of 75-78.

“The wind was steady all day at 30 mph and gust over 40 mph,” said head coach Sean Covich.

“So it’s not surprising to see teams from the western districts atop the leader board and the teams from the south and east struggle in this wind.”

“Even with the wind I’m disappointed in the play so far, still 36 holes left but this not the position we should be in. We’ve had a better year and have a better team than what we have shown thus far.”

Indian Hills Community College leads the team leader board at even-par while McLennan College is in second place at 3-over par.

MCC is in 11th place at 22-over par.

Individually, Ryley Hess is leading the field with 3 under-par.

23 teams and 117 individuals are competing in the national championship being played at Odessa Country Club. Third round will be played tomorrow with the final round scheduled for Friday.

For full results visit: http://www.golfstatresults.com//public/leaderboards/team/static/team_players_2695.html

Garon leads MCC after Day One at National Championship

(ODESSA, Texas) - Defending national champion golfer, Meridian Community College sophomore Brandt Garon, shot an even-par 72 on Tuesday during the first round of the 2011 NJCAA Division I National Championship.

Garon's even par led the Eagles who posted a 7-over par 295 and are in seventh place out of 23 teams.

The national championship is being conducted at the Odessa Country Club- Links Course.

"We struggled today in this signature West Texas wind," said MCC coach Sean Covich.

"We had absolutely no wind during the two practice rounds so it was like a completely different course today."

Individual scores for MCC included Garon's 72 followed by sophomore Adam Monsen with a 1-over 73. Freshman Jake Stirling had a 3-over 75 as did sophomore Clemens Dvorak. Freshman Easton Key shot 5-over par 77.

Two-time defending national champion, McLennan (TX) College, is tied with Central Alabama for first with 2-under par, 286. Indian Hills is in third with 1-under par, 287.

Individually, Central Alabama's Paul Harris leads with 4-under par, 68.

Live scoring is available for the event at www.golfstat.com

Second rounds gets underway Wednesday at the Eagles tee off at 11:04.

FULL RESULTS: http://www.golfstatresults.com//public/leaderboards/team/static/team_players_2695.html

No. 2 Eagles head to the National Championship

(ODESSA, TX) - The Meridian Community College golf team will make their third consecutive appearance in the NJCAA Division I National Championship this week in Odessa, TX.

The Eagles enter the national tournament ranked as the No. 2 team in the country.

The championship, which is scheduled for 72 holes, begins on Tuesday. The four-day event will conclude on Friday and is being played on the “Links Course” of Odessa Country Club.

Last season MCC claimed their best finish in school history at the Division I level with a second place finish in the national championship, played last year at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail-Hampton Cove in Huntsville, AL. Then Eagle freshman, Brandt Garon, won the programs first ever individual national championship, shooting 5-under par for the tournament.

Garon is back this year to defend his title starting in the No. 1 spot for fifth-year MCC head coach Sean Covich.

Garon is perhaps the hottest golfer in all of college golf having won a NCAA Division I event (Arkansas State Red Wolf Intercollegiate) and a NJCAA post season championship (NJCAA District IV Championship) in his last two outings. He is 18-under par for his last five rounds of tournament golf.

“Brandt has had a remarkable career here at MCC,” said Covich.

“No matter what happens this week at nationals, he will leave here the most decorated player in school history. A NJCAA All America, a GCAA All America, the Arnold Palmer Award recipient last season, a member of the GCAA All Freshman team, a two time All Region player, and of course MCC’s first NJCAA National Champion. He has done it all.”

Garon has won a school record six tournaments and set nine other school records in his time at MCC, including season scoring average (72.1), career scoring average (72.4) and most rounds of even-par or better (31). Garon has signed with the University of Louisiana Lafayette.

Playing in the No. 2 spot for MCC will be freshman Jake Stirling. Stirling has notched as many top five finishes as Garon this season (7) and has tied the school record for lowest score (65).

“Jake has already made his mark and earned the interest of several four year coaches,” said Covich.

“He has played very consistent for us and pushed Brandt to be a better golf this season also.”

Sophomore Clemens Dvorak will start in the No. 3 spot for MCC. The Georgia State University signee recently earned MCC’s Scholar Athlete of the Year.

“Clemens has always been someone we could count on to post a solid score and fight the entire round for us. He has brought maturity and passion to this team.”

Meridian native, Easton Key will start in the No. 4 spot for the Eagles. Key, a freshman from Lamar, tied the school record in the fall with a 7-under par 65 in his first college event.

“Easton, at times, has shown that he can be one of the best on this team. Being a freshman, though, comes with first year mistakes. He has been able to learn from Brandt, Clemens and the other sophomores throughout the season to become a better golfer.”

Sophomore Adam Monsen returns to his home state for his final event as an Eagle. The San Antonio, TX native will play in the No. 5 spot for MCC this week. Monsen is the only player, besides Garon, to win multiple tournaments over his career. Monsen won the 2010 Faulkner State Invitational and the 2011 Miss-Lou College Invitational. Monsen has signed with the University of Louisiana Monroe.

23 teams from around the country are competing including two-time defending national champions, McLennan (TX) College. McLennan won last year’s national title by 8 shots over MCC in a rain shortened 54-hole championship.

MCC will be paired with New Mexico Junior College and Indian Hills Community College for the first and second rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday and Friday pairings will be determined by what position the teams are in.

The Eagles hit the links Tuesday at 7:30 am. Wednesday, MCC tees off at 11:04 am.

Live scoring for the 2011 NJCAA DI Men’s Golf National Championship will be available on GolfStat.com at www.golfstatresults.com/public/index.cfm?tournament_id=2695

Check out the final regular season NJCAA DI Men’s Golf Poll here http://www.njcaa.org/sports_polls.cfm?category=Polls&sid=12&divid=1&slid=6

WALKER STEPS DOWN AS MCC MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH

(MERIDIAN)- Jeff Walker has resigned as head men’s basketball coach at Meridian Community College, according to MCC Athletic Director Hilary Allen. Walker took the Eagle reins from current Mississippi State Assistant Coach George Brooks in August of 2010 and posted an 19-10 record in his lone season at MCC.

Walker came to MCC from Indiana Tech University, where he had served as athletic director since 2009. He had over 20 years coaching experience, including head coaching stints at Crichton College in Memphis, Grayson County College in Texas, and Hiawassee College in Tennessee as well as an assistantship at Middle Tennessee State University. With his stint at MCC, Walker’s career head coaching record now stands at 179-96.

“Obviously, I was hoping that Coach Walker’s tenure at MCC would be longer than one year,” said Dr. Scott Elliott, college president, “but he has indicated that it is in his best interest and that of his family to chart a different course, so we wish him all the best and sincerely thank him for all his efforts on behalf of our college. ”

Walker had a history of turning around slumping basketball programs, and took a step in that direction for MCC with a 19-win season, including a 5-4 Miss-Lou Conference record. “Coach Walker laid a foundation this year that can hopefully be built upon by our new head coach,” Elliott assessed.

Elliott said the search for a new head coach would begin immediately, under the direction of Allen and MCC Assistant Dean for Student Services Sander Atkinson.

“Those two guys (Allen and Atkinson) did a good job in recruiting a proven coach like Jeff Walker last year in a rather tight timeline, given that we lost George Brooks to Mississippi State just before school started in the fall of 2010,” Elliott recalled. “This time around, we have a little more time to get things in place, although it remains a critical time for recruiting. So, we still have some sense of urgency in landing a quality coach.”

Allen said his first goal will be to work with Eagle Assistant Basketball Coach Justin Mann to keep the nucleus of Eagle returnees intact.

“We had a strong group of freshmen on this year’s team,” Allen said. “Coach Mann and I want to assure them that MCC is committed to securing a quality individual to coach them next season. We have as many as seven returnees on our roster who we want to keep in the Green and White for their sophomore seasons. However, I fully understand that it’s always an anxious time for players whenever you have a transition in coaches, so we want to make certain those players know they are wanted and needed in our basketball program.”

Anyone interested in applying for MCC head basketball coach can contact Allen at 601-484-8699.

MCC Soccer player headed to next level

(MERIDIAN) - Meridian Community College soccer player, Valentino Fogo, has signed a national letter of intent with the University of South Carolina-Aiken.

Fogo, a native from Kingston, Jamacia was two year starter at striker for the Eagles. Over his two year career at MCC, Fogo compiled 22 goals and 14 assists. He was named to the 2010 All Region 23 team in his sophomore year and helped the Eagles to a NJCAA Region 23 Runner up finish in 2009.

USC-Aiken is a NCAA Division II program and they compete in the Peach Belt Conference.