Hendrix College Men's Golf

Lester's men broke the school record in scoring in back-to-back rounds with a 312 and 309 at the Louisiana College Fall Tournament. In 2014-15, the Warrior men improved their average by more than 34 strokes since 2012-13 before Lester took over. They also broke the program scoring record twice, with a new best of 305 recorded in the final round of the Mississippi College Invitational in March. In 2015-16, Lester coached All-Southern Athletic Association First Team selection Kevin Austrian, who tied for third at the SAA Championships. Lester was an All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference and NAIA All-District 17 selection for Hendrix as a senior in 1982. As an amateur, he was ranked in the top ten in Arkansas from 1989-98. Lester has notched five ASGA wins and eight runner-up finishes during his career. Lester has won the City of Little Rock championship twice and the Hindman Golf Course Club championships nine times, as well as a Camden Country Club title. During his career, Lester has registered 12 hole-in-ones and five double eagles. He is renowned for his short game abilities in both chipping and putting. Lester has also worked as an accountant for Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield and as manager of the International Golf Store. He has also owned a mini-blind company and has spent the last 13 years as the owner of Little Rock Golf, a club repair company. A native of Camden, Ark., Lester graduated from Hendrix with a B.A. in Economics and Business in 1982. He and his wife Sandie have two sons - Ben and Jack - and reside in Conway. Hendrix 1982 Fourth season Former Hendrix standout Jay Lester was hired as the Warriors' men's and women's golf coach in August 2013. In his first season at the helm, Lester's men broke the school record in scoring in back-to-back rounds with a 312 and 309 at the Louisiana College Fall Tournament. In 2014-15, the Warrior men improved their average by more than 34 strokes since 2012-13 before Lester took over. They also broke the program scoring record twice, with a new best of 305 recorded in the final round of the Mississippi College Invitational in March. In 2015-16, Lester coached All-Southern Athletic Association First Team selection Kevin Austrian, who tied for third at the SAA Championships. Lester was an All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference and NAIA All-District 17 selection for Hendrix as a senior in 1982. As an amateur, he was ranked in the top ten in Arkansas from 1989-98. Lester has notched five ASGA wins and eight runner-up finishes during his career. Lester has won the City of Little Rock championship twice and the Hindman Golf Course Club championships nine times, as well as a Camden Country Club title. During his career, Lester has registered 12 hole-in-ones and five double eagles. He is renowned for his short game abilities in both chipping and putting. Lester has also worked as an accountant for Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield and as manager of the International Golf Store. He has also owned a mini-blind company and has spent the last 13 years as the owner of Little Rock Golf, a club repair company. A native of Camden, Ark., Lester graduated from Hendrix with a B.A. in Economics and Business in 1982. He and his wife Sandie have two sons - Ben and Jack - and reside in Conway.

Alma Mater: Central Baptist College, 2025 Seasons: First Gram Middleton was named Head Coach of the Women's Golf Team in 2026, after serving as a student assistant for the women's basketball team in 2025-26.  Middleton was a star pitcher for cross-town Central Baptist College, finishing up his four year career as the program leader in career starts (42) and innings pitched (232.2). Middleton also recorded 257 strikeouts (9.94 K/9) in his career, which ranks 3rd in CBC history. Middleton was named All-AMC First team in 2024, as well as a three-time All-AMC Academic Team Selection.  Middleton is the son of Lyle and Tracie Middleton. His father, Lyle, is the long time Athletic Director, retired Women's Basketball Coach and Golf Coach at Central Baptist College.

Merkel will serve as the assistant golf coach. In 2014-15, the Warriors recorded a five-game winning streak which propelled Hendrix into their first NCAA Division III Tournament since 1996. They won the final two games of the regular season, then knocked off the #3, #2 and #1 seeds at the Southern Athletic Association Tournament to become league champions. In his three seasons with the Warriors, Merkel helped coach five all-conference selections. Merkel was a three-year starter at point guard for Millsaps College appearing in 88 games during his career. He scored a career-high 15 points against Oglethorpe and dished out nine assists against Rhodes. Merkel led the Majors in assists during his final three seasons.  Merkel also served as team captain as a junior and senior and was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court in 2011 and 2012. A native of Baton Rouge, La., Merkel averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game for St. Michael the Archangel High School. He was an all-district selection in 2008 and named to the Louisiana Coaches Association All-State Team that same year. Merkel was also a member of the National Honor Society. Merkel served as St. Michaels freshmen and junior varsity head coach while also serving as the varsity assistant during the 2012-13 season. Also, he was an assistant coach with the Red Storm AAU basketball program. Merkel graduated from Millsaps College in 2012 with a degree in Business Administration and minors in Economics and Communications.  He received his MBA in the summer of 2013 from Southeastern Louisiana University. Millsaps 2012 Fourth season Brian Merkel begins his fourth season as an assistant to head men's basketball coach Thad McCracken after a successful playing career at NCAA Division III and Southern Athletic Association member Millsaps College. In addition to coaching basketball, Merkel will serve as the assistant golf coach. In 2014-15, the Warriors recorded a five-game winning streak which propelled Hendrix into their first NCAA Division III Tournament since 1996. They won the final two games of the regular season, then knocked off the #3, #2 and #1 seeds at the Southern Athletic Association Tournament to become league champions. In his three seasons with the Warriors, Merkel helped coach five all-conference selections. Merkel was a three-year starter at point guard for Millsaps College appearing in 88 games during his career. He scored a career-high 15 points against Oglethorpe and dished out nine assists against Rhodes. Merkel led the Majors in assists during his final three seasons.  Merkel also served as team captain as a junior and senior and was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court in 2011 and 2012. A native of Baton Rouge, La., Merkel averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game for St. Michael the Archangel High School. He was an all-district selection in 2008 and named to the Louisiana Coaches Association All-State Team that same year. Merkel was also a member of the National Honor Society. Merkel served as St. Michaels freshmen and junior varsity head coach while also serving as the varsity assistant during the 2012-13 season. Also, he was an assistant coach with the Red Storm AAU basketball program. Merkel graduated from Millsaps College in 2012 with a degree in Business Administration and minors in Economics and Communications.  He received his MBA in the summer of 2013 from Southeastern Louisiana University.