By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A man nearly synonymous with Tennessee Tech men's golf will stay at the helm of the Golden Eagle program for at least the next five seasons, as TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson announced a contract extension for head coach Polk Brown through the 2027-28 season.
"Polk has Tennessee Tech purple and gold coursing through his veins," Tech Director of Athletics Mark Wilson said. "We are thrilled to have a man as passionate for golf, academics, and most importantly, this campus, these student-athletes, and this community as he is. Polk has continued to build this program into a consistent contender and I know he will continue to do great things in the future."
Entering his 13th season at the helm of the Tech men's, Brown is also in his third as an assistant for the women's golf program after serving as its head coach for 10 seasons. He moved into an assistant role for the women's team following the elevation of former assistant coach Amanda Smith into the head role in July 2021. Brown was named the first full-time head coach of both Golden Eagle programs in July 2011.
"I am so thankful for the belief that Mark Wilson and his administration have shown in me to have led this program these 13 years," Brown expressed, "and to now have the opportunity to be here even longer is such a blessing. I love this program, this school, and this city so much. I'm honored to be able to give back to the community, these young men and women, and just the game of golf as a whole. I'm so excited for what the future is going to bring."
Brown was the second-longest tenured coach in the history of the women's squad and is third-longest on the men's side. Only the legendary Hall of Famer Bobby Nichols, who established the women's program in 1986, coached the team longer (22 years). On the men's side, Nichols led the program for 34 years while another Tech Hall of Famer, Raymond "Bull" Brown, served as head coach for 19 seasons.
The Tennessee Tech grad and men's golf alum collected his first career Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors following the 2021-22 campaign as the Golden Eagles finished the year with a program-record and league-leading scoring average of 289.96. The Golden Eagles finished as the OVC's runner-up, securing the No. 1 seed in the first-ever match-play portion of the league's championship. The purple and gold turned in four runner-up showings on the year, including each of the final three tournaments during the year.
In his time at the helm of the men's program, he has coached eight individuals to a combined 10 All-OVC honors, including two-time recipients Mitch Thomas and Jackson Skeen. Seven Golden Eagles have gone on to earn OVC All-Newcomer accolades under Brown's guidance while five have claimed spots on the OVC All-Tournament Team. During the 2021-22 season, Jackson Skeen was honored as the OVC's Freshman of the Year.
In 2022-23, Skeen earned just the second at-large selection to participate as an individual at the NCAA Men's Golf Championships in program history. Skeen also broke the program's regular-season scoring average record, posting a mark of 70.96 before his trip to the NCAA Tournament.
During his tenure, the Tech men have combined to win 50 All-Tournament nods, four individual medalist honors, and four tournament titles. The Golden Eagle men's squad has finished in the top five of the OVC Championships five times, including runner-up performances in 2015 and 2022.
Among the men's program records that have been set under Brown's direction include the all-time team scoring marks for both 18 and 54 holes, as well as the season scoring average record. The Golden Eagles have also posted four of the five lowest team season scoring averages since he took over in 2011.
Under Brown's watch, the Tech women's program saw four members claim All-OVC honors, two combine for three OVC All-Tournament accolades, and one earn a spot on the OVC All-Newcomer Team. A total of 32 Golden Eagles collected All-Tournament honors during his tenure as head coach, with a pair winning medalist honors as well. He also guided the team to a pair of tournament titles and three top-five finishes at the OVC Championships, including a runner-up showing in 2016.
His women's teams set program records for 18-, 36-, and 54-hole scores both as a team and individually. The women also established each of the top-six team season scoring averages under Brown's direction, including the top showing of 308.27 during the 2016-17 campaign.
A four-year letterman under Nichols, Brown played for the Golden Eagles from 2001 to 2006, with a redshirt season in 2003-04. As a player, he earned all-tournament honors three times during his career, including the Mercer Invitational as a freshman and the EKU Spring Invitational as a senior. A team captain in his final year, he finished fifth at the 2006 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament to claim his third all-tournament honor. In 2001-02 he won the Most Improved Player Award and the Impact Award, and in 2005-06 he received the team's Most Dedicated Player Award.
Brown received his bachelor's degree in finance from Tech in 2006, and completed his coursework in August 2011, adding his master's degree in curriculum and instruction. He spent his first year after graduation as an Apprentice at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, then returned to school in 2009 to begin working toward his master's.
Photo by Emily Armstrong
