McMurry University Men's Golf

Rees was introduced as the War Hawks head coach for mens and womens golf on May 6, 2015. Rees is a veteran of 26 years as a golf coach, 24 of which has been as a head coach.   Rees appointment also elevated the War Hawks golf programs in that he will be a full-time staff member and have a larger presence on campus, as well. Previously, the golf coach positions were both part time.   Rees spent the past 16 seasons (1999-2015) as the head mens coach at NCAA Division I UT-Arlington, where he was a three-time Southland Conference Coach of the Year and earned three SC championships. He produced three all-American golfers, 45 all-conference picks and 12 academic all-Americans at UTA.    Prior to joining the UT-Arlington staff, Rees spent three seasons (1996-99) as both the mens and womens head coach at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin.  His teams earned three NAIA post-season berths and produced a total of 10 NAIA All-Americans, as he transitioned the TLU program from NAIA to NCAA Division III.   He also was the head mens coach at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College for one season (1995-96), where he had the top-ranked JUCO team in the nation.  Prior to that, he was an assistant for one season each at Arizona State (1994-95) and at Louisiana State (1993-94).   From 1989-93, Rees was the head coach at Emporia State University. At the time of his hire, he was the youngest-ever four-year collegiate head coach at just 21 years of age. His youth certainly was not an issue, as ESU won four conference championships and he was a four-time Coach of the Year during his tenure.   Rees played at Emporia State for two years (1987-89), earning a pair of Central State Intercollegiate Conference individual championships. He also played two years at John A. Logan Junior College (1985-87).   He earned his bachelors degree in business (1990) and masters in health, physical education and recreation (1992) from Emporia State. Rees' wife, Sandie Macgreggor Rees, grew on their 140-year old ranch - The Harvey Ranch - north of Abilene. Sandie attended Albany High School and is a graduate of ACU, and is an elementary school teacher.  

Former McMurry University Vice President for Student Affairs and Intercollegiate Athletics Sam Ferguson did not have to look very far to find the new leader of the women's and men's golf programs in 2022, as former All-American Rode McElreath was introduced as the new head coach on February 18, 2022. McElreath was a collegiate golfer at McMurry from 2003-07, garnering All-American honors in 2007. In 2019, McElreath native was enshrined into the McMurry Hall of Honor. Now working as the head coach, McElreath hit the ground running and assumed his duties mid-season. Erk Nithipol finished as an all-conference honorable mention, the team finished seventh at the ASC Championships and an impressive eight golfers was named to the academic all-conference list. McElreath also impacted McMurry during his first offseason, including the launch of McMurry Golf's new social media accounts and the rebuilding of the women's golf program, who will compete this upcoming season. McElreath is no stranger to success at the NCAA Division III level, as he was the first golfer in program history to receive one of the few at-large bids to the national championship. The only other men’s golfers to accomplish this feat at McMurry are Brendon Lowrance in 2019 and Lane Roye in 2021. McElreath also aided McMurry to an American Southwest Conference championship as a freshman. After graduating from McMurry in 2007 with a degree in psychology, he went on to work for Basic Energy Services for 10 years as an explosives engineer, field supervisor and area manager. The golf side of him never left though, as he competed in the NGA Tour winter series in Florida in 2009. Most recently, McElreath has served as the Boys Athletic Coordinator at Clack Middle School for five years. In his role, he handles coaching duties for football, basketball, track and powerlifting while also serving as a personal golf coach for multiple athletes. McElrath and his wife, Kayce, married in August 2008 and the couple has three children – Tayvie Jo, Jett and Jaxon. They currently reside in his hometown of Merkel.