South Dakota State University Women's Golf

Ellis, who spent 20 years as the Northern Michigan head golf coach, joined the South Dakota State golf program as assistant coach in 2014.     Ellis, who was named the head golf coach at Northern Michigan in 1993, led NMU to the 2014 NCAA Regionals, where it placed 14th, after finishing eighth at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Golf (GLIAC) Championships. Additionally, he guided the Wildcats to the 1999 NCAA Division II Tournament.     While at Northern Michigan, Ellis served as the Golf Association of Michigan Governor, on the NCAA Division II, District IV Golf Regional Advisory Committees and organized and administrated the 1999 and 2010 GLIAC Golf Championships.     In 2011-12, Ellis was the lead instructor at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa where he provided individual and group lessons with use of JC-Video and Foresight GC2. He was also the head golf professional at the Wawonowin Country Club in Ishpeming, Mich., in 1991, winning the club championship in 1995. Additionally, Ellis won the Upper Peninsula mens amateur championship in 1981.     Ellis was also the mens basketball coach at Northern Michigan beginning in 1986-87. He posted a 369-303 record, becoming the winningest coach in program history in 2005. Ellis stepped down as head coach in 2010 after 24 years.     Under Ellis leadership, the Wildcats made 13 appearances in the GLIAC postseason tournament and won the 1999-2000 title. His 1993, 1999 and 2000 squads won GLIAC regular-season titles and also qualified for the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament. He had four 20-win seasons (1993, '94, '99, '00) and was selected 1993 GLIAC Coach of the Year.     A native of Negaunee, Mich., where he was a standout athlete, Ellis earned three letters in basketball and four in golf at Southwest Missouri State University. He transferred to Northern Michigan where he completed work on his bachelors degree in 1983.     Ellis and his wife, Lois, are the parents of David and Daniel. Dean Ellis Assistant Coach     Dean Ellis, who spent 20 years as the Northern Michigan head golf coach, joined the South Dakota State golf program as assistant coach in 2014.     Ellis, who was named the head golf coach at Northern Michigan in 1993, led NMU to the 2014 NCAA Regionals, where it placed 14th, after finishing eighth at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Golf (GLIAC) Championships. Additionally, he guided the Wildcats to the 1999 NCAA Division II Tournament.     While at Northern Michigan, Ellis served as the Golf Association of Michigan Governor, on the NCAA Division II, District IV Golf Regional Advisory Committees and organized and administrated the 1999 and 2010 GLIAC Golf Championships.     In 2011-12, Ellis was the lead instructor at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa where he provided individual and group lessons with use of JC-Video and Foresight GC2. He was also the head golf professional at the Wawonowin Country Club in Ishpeming, Mich., in 1991, winning the club championship in 1995. Additionally, Ellis won the Upper Peninsula mens amateur championship in 1981.     Ellis was also the mens basketball coach at Northern Michigan beginning in 1986-87. He posted a 369-303 record, becoming the winningest coach in program history in 2005. Ellis stepped down as head coach in 2010 after 24 years.     Under Ellis leadership, the Wildcats made 13 appearances in the GLIAC postseason tournament and won the 1999-2000 title. His 1993, 1999 and 2000 squads won GLIAC regular-season titles and also qualified for the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament. He had four 20-win seasons (1993, '94, '99, '00) and was selected 1993 GLIAC Coach of the Year.     A native of Negaunee, Mich., where he was a standout athlete, Ellis earned three letters in basketball and four in golf at Southwest Missouri State University. He transferred to Northern Michigan where he completed work on his bachelors degree in 1983.     Ellis and his wife, Lois, are the parents of David and Daniel.

VanDammes first season as South Dakota State Director of Golf.     Under his guidance, the Jackrabbit womens golf team won a pair of tournaments and broke school records for single-season scoring average and lowest 18-hole, 36-hole and 54-hole scores in a single season. Its scoring average was more than 10 strokes better than the previous record.     Individually, SDSU, broke eight single-season marks with senior Sydney McDonald setting seven and three players finished in the top three in single-season scoring average, led by junior Hallie Getzs     76.48. All told, seven of eight Jackrabbits dropped two-or-more strokes from their 2013-14 average.     VanDamme, who is SDSUs second full-time golf coach, spent five seasons at Tennessee as Director of Instruction/Player Development beginning in 2009. During his tenure, Tennessee equaled its best postseason stretch in school history with five trips to the NCAA Championship regionals, advancing to the 2010, 2011 and 2013 NCAA Championships.     Prior to coaching the Vols, VanDamme learned the trade under renowned golf instructor Jim McLean. He spent seven years at the Jim McLean Golf School in Palm Springs, Calif., and Traverse City, Mich., becoming the youngest master instructor in school history.     VanDamme has worked with PGA Tour players, including as an on-site teaching professional to a participant in the 2009 PGA Championship.     He began his collegiate golf career at Marquette before finishing at Northern Michigan, where he graduated in 2000. VanDamme started his tenure under McLean in 1998 while still playing collegiately. He also played professionally on the National Golf Association Hooters Tour in 2003-04.      From 2006 to 2009, VanDamme served as athletic director at Mid Peninsula High School in Rock, Mich., also working summers since 2005 with the CVD Golf Academy in Gladstone, Mich. He also served in 2008 as head golf professional at LochenHeath Golf Club in Traverse City.     VanDamme and his wife, the former Jill Gobert, are natives of Perkins, Mich., and are the parents of daughters, Madelyn and Claire, and son, Andrew. Casey VanDamme Director of Golf     Immediate impact.     Those two words could describe Casey VanDammes first season as South Dakota State Director of Golf.     Under his guidance, the Jackrabbit womens golf team won a pair of tournaments and broke school records for single-season scoring average and lowest 18-hole, 36-hole and 54-hole scores in a single season. Its scoring average was more than 10 strokes better than the previous record.     Individually, SDSU, broke eight single-season marks with senior Sydney McDonald setting seven and three players finished in the top three in single-season scoring average, led by junior Hallie Getzs     76.48. All told, seven of eight Jackrabbits dropped two-or-more strokes from their 2013-14 average.     VanDamme, who is SDSUs second full-time golf coach, spent five seasons at Tennessee as Director of Instruction/Player Development beginning in 2009. During his tenure, Tennessee equaled its best postseason stretch in school history with five trips to the NCAA Championship regionals, advancing to the 2010, 2011 and 2013 NCAA Championships.     Prior to coaching the Vols, VanDamme learned the trade under renowned golf instructor Jim McLean. He spent seven years at the Jim McLean Golf School in Palm Springs, Calif., and Traverse City, Mich., becoming the youngest master instructor in school history.     VanDamme has worked with PGA Tour players, including as an on-site teaching professional to a participant in the 2009 PGA Championship.     He began his collegiate golf career at Marquette before finishing at Northern Michigan, where he graduated in 2000. VanDamme started his tenure under McLean in 1998 while still playing collegiately. He also played professionally on the National Golf Association Hooters Tour in 2003-04.      From 2006 to 2009, VanDamme served as athletic director at Mid Peninsula High School in Rock, Mich., also working summers since 2005 with the CVD Golf Academy in Gladstone, Mich. He also served in 2008 as head golf professional at LochenHeath Golf Club in Traverse City.     VanDamme and his wife, the former Jill Gobert, are natives of Perkins, Mich., and are the parents of daughters, Madelyn and Claire, and son, Andrew.