Chelsea Carroll Named 2022 Dave Williams NJCAA National Coach of the Year
PHOENIX ---
South Mountain Community College men's and women's golf head coach Chelsea Carroll earned 2022 Dave Williams NJCAA National Coach of the Year Award presented by Golf Pride Grips, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced. Carroll led the Cougar Men's squad to the 2022 NJCAA Division II National Championship and guided the Cougar women to a berth in the NJCAA Southwest District Championships and a national ranking at the end of the 2022 season.
"I am humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award. There are so many to thank that have supported me through the years," said Carroll. "To my husband, family, coaches and mentors who have always supported me, given me advice and taken my call, emails, texts in my times of need, thank you!"
"I would especially like to recognize my current teams. You have challenged me to grow both as a coach and as a person," she continued. "Thank you to the student-athletes I have had the privilege to coach in the past, for the lessons of how to be a better coach. Without every single one of you, this award would only be a dream."
SMCC won the NJCAA Division II National Championship at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club in Joplin, Mo., May 17-20. The Cougars finished the four-day tournament at +31 to defeat Mississippi Gulf Coast CC and Tyler Junior College by 19 strokes and capture the eighth National Championship in SMCC men's golf program history.
Individually, sophomore Cecil Belisle won his second-straight National Championship and claimed Individual Medalist honors by finishing at even-par over the 72 holes to defeat his nearest rival by three strokes. Belisle and Sean Markham (First Team) and Ethan Klose (Second Team) received NJCAA PING All-American honors.
The Cougars opened the tournament with a +9, 297 team score to sit in second place. They improved by three strokes in round two (+6, 294), posted a +11, 299 in round three and claimed the event with a final-round score of +5, 293. SMCC finished at +31 (1,183).
SMCC won seven times over the spring before claiming the eighth National Championship in program history. The Cougars carded a one-under, 283 to finish at even-par (1,136) at the par-71 course in their final round at the Region I Division II Championships.
On the women's side, SMCC placed eighth at the 2022 NJCAA Southwest District Championships April 18-19 at Hawks Creek Golf Club in Westworth Village, Texas. The Cougars finished the three rounds at 223-over, 1087. Individually, freshman Kylie Rehberger led SMCC and earned All-District honors with an eighth-place finish at nine-over, 239.
Rehberger went on to tie for 52nd at +57 (345) at the NJCAA Division I Women's Championships May 9-12 in Sanford, Fla., at Mayfair Country Club. For the season, Rehberger earned All-District, All-Region and All-Conference honors. She posted five top-five finishes, and placed second at three spring tournaments.