On September 1, 2011 the Talladega College Athletic Department Men's golf program hired a new coach, Kevin Jennings. Coach Jennings was born in Los Angeles, California and grew up in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The Benton Harbor High School alum is the first African-American to graduate from the Golf Academy of America (San Diego Campus). He played collegiately at St. Augustine's College, and completed his degree requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting at Mississippi Valley State University.
Coach Jennings comes to Talladega College from Memphis, Tennessee where he was assistant men's and women's golf coach at Christian Brothers University and teaching golf at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Bartlett, Tennessee. Coach Jennings has also been the assistant men's and women's golf coach at Mississippi Valley State University and studied under Rob Akins, top 25 instructor and #1 instructor in the state of Tennessee, at Spring Creek Ranch. Spring Creek Ranch, at the time, was the #2 private facility in the state of Tennessee.
Coach Jennings began his teaching career facilitating physical education golf classes while attending St. Augustine's College on a golf scholarship. He then obtained a position as an assistant golf professional /instructor at the Encino/Balboa golf Complex in Encino, California. Coach Jennings also worked as an Associate Golf Instructor for the Pure Shot Golf Academy at the Paiute Golf Resort outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. The owner of the Pure Shot Golf Academy is Jeff Jones, PGA. Mr. Jones has been a Golf Channel featured instructor multiple times and was chosen as "instructor of the year" in the Las Vegas area over Butch Harmon when Tiger was still with Butch! Coach Jennings has also worked with sports psychologist on all facets of the game.
Mr. Jennings has also worked as an assistant golf professional/instructor at De Bell Golf Course in Burbank, California. While at De Bell, Coach Jennings worked full time as an assistant and more than doubled his salary as a golf instructor. Also over a three year period at De Bell, while teaching and working full time, Coach Jennings averaged over $12.500 in local and regional professional golf tournaments. Coach Jennings received full professional sponsorship and played mini-tours and regional professional tournaments prior to moving to Memphis. While serving as the Talladega College men's golf coach he will continue to work with his clientele at Quail Ridge, monthly or bi-monthly and pursue limited professional competition.
Coach Jennings grew up watching the greats: Brad Faxon, Billy Andrade, Scott Verplank, Rocco Mediate and Phil Mickelson and playing at one of North America's best facilities, Point O' Woods Country Club in Benton Harbor, Michigan a Robert Trent Jones design. The Western Amateur golf tournament is the 3rd largest and most prestigious Amateur Tournaments in the world. Past winners include: Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Curtis Strange and Tiger Woods. Coach Jennings feels that his background, knowledge, skills and experiences along with the support of the athletic department and administration will be an excellent recipe for success! GO TORNADOES!
