Finalists Announced for 2025 NJCAA Division II Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award presented by Golf Pride Grips

NORMAN, Okla. - NJCAA Division II finalists for the 2025 Dave Williams Award presented by Golf Pride Grips have been announced by the GCAA. The Williams Award honors the national coach of the year in NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, NJCAA Division I, and NJCAA Division II men’s golf.

The three finalists are Marcus Smith of South Mountain, Brad Thornton of Mississippi Gulf Coast, and Darrin York of Heartland.

Smith has guided the Cougars to eight victories, including six of their last seven tournaments by 140 total strokes, and two other top-three finishes in his second season at the helm. Ranked second via Scoreboard powered by Clippd, the Cougars have been led on the course by PING All-Americans Adam Croix and Jorge Parada, the 2025 NJCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award presented by StrackaLine recipient.

Thornton has led defending national champion Mississippi Gulf Coast to nine wins in their last 10 tournaments and three other top-three finishes in 12 total tournaments this season. Ranked No. 1 via Scoreboard powered by Clippd, the Bulldogs have been led on the course by PING All-Americans Stanley Campbell, John Mark Mills, and Peyton Russell. Thornton was the NJCAA Division II Dave Williams Award presented by Golf Pride Grips recipient in 2024.

After the Hawks recorded seven top-six finishes in his first season as head golf coach last season, York has propelled Heartland to top-six results in all 13 2024-25 tournaments with a six-shot victory at the NJCAA Region 24 Championship. Ranked eighth via Scoreboard powered by Clippd, Heartland has been led on the course by PING All-Region honorees Jack Wenzel and Gabriele Bravin, a PING First Team All-American and GCAA All-Freshman Team representative.

All three finalists are coaching this week at the 2025 NJCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championship at Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth, Ind.

About Golf Pride Grips

For over seven decades, we’ve been the global leader in golf grip innovation and technology, from the invention of the slip-on grip to groundbreaking advancements in cord with our new Brushed Cotton Technology (BCT®) to the introduction of the hybrid category of grips. Today, Golf Pride® has laid claim to more major wins than any other grip company. More than 80% of Tour professionals choose to play our grips and not one is paid to do so. And in this age of multi-million dollar endorsement deals, that’s the strongest endorsement of all. So, whether you’re a Tour pro playing a major, a rising amateur, or an everyday golfer, you can rest assured knowing you’re playing the #1 Grip in Golf. To learn more about Golf Pride®, go to golfpride.com.