CENTRAL — Southern Wesleyan University and Director of Athletics Julia Reininga recently announced the return of Men’s and Women’s Golf to Southern Wesleyan University. Leading the revitalized programs will be Matt Smith, who has been appointed as the head coach for both the Men’s and Women’s Golf teams.
“The reinstatement of Men’s and Women’s Golf at Southern Wesleyan is very exciting,” commented Reininga, “Coach Matt Smith is the right man for the job. He has college assistant and head coaching experience, along with being a wonderful mission fit. The golf programs will flourish under his leadership. I want to welcome Matt and his family to the Warrior family.”
Smith will join the Warriors after serving as the Assistant Men’s Golf Coach at University of South Carolina – Upstate. While with the Spartans, he provided instruction, guidance and leadership to each of the athletes. He helped guide and instruct freshman Alec Prentice who went on to be named the Big South Conference Freshman Golfer of the Year for USC Upstate.
Prior to his time at Upstate, he was the Head Men’s Golf Coach at Truett McConnell in Cleveland, Georgia. Smith served as the coach from 2021 to 2023. In 2023, the team achieved program history as they were named the AAC regular season and then the conference tournament champions. He was named the AAC Coach of the Year after the historic season, becoming the first coach in program history to earn the title. The Bears went on to finish 13th at the 2023 National Championship after their first ever time making it to the national stage.
Under his guidance, the Bears were ranked fifth in the NAIA and Spikemark. These rankings were the highest the golf program at Truett-McConnell had achieved. Under his guidance, he coached eight AAC All-Conference players, four individual champions, one individual conference champion and two NAIA All-Americans. One of his players, Jackson Stone, went on to be ranked fifth nationally as an individual.
Smith graduated from Truett McConnell with a Bachelor of Arts in General Business in 2020. During his collegiate career, he was a three time AAC All-Conference player and was also a three time NAIA Champion of Character recipient. Smith became the first Bear in program history to be named a NAIA All-American. His NAIA All-American honor allowed him to earn the opportunity to compete in the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. He picked up five individual collegiate wins in his career.
“I am so blessed and thankful to have the opportunity to be the Head Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach at Southern Wesleyan University,” commented Smith. “I am eager to support our student athletes and positively impact their lives through Christ. It’s going to be an exciting time getting to help bring the golf programs back to SWU and I look forward to leading them to new levels of success! This is a dream come true for me and my family to join the SWU community and be part of something special. I want to thank our Athletic Director Julia Reininga and the rest of the staff for believing in me to lead the golf programs. Go Warriors!”
Smith and his wife, Hunter, have a son named Tripp and reside in Seneca.
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