GSW hires new golf coach, inks seven soccer players

AMERICUS — The Georgia Southwestern State University athletic department and director Jaclyn Kaylor announced Thursday that Andrew Danna had been selected as the new men’s golf head coach, replacing Stan Shurling, who had led the program since 2006.

“We are very fortunate to have an individual of Andrew’s caliber join our staff,” Kaylor said. “He is a good fit for our Hurricane family, and the wealth of knowledge and experience he brings to GSW will be the key to our success.”

Danna comes to GSW from English Turn Country Club in New Orleans, La., where he was an assistant professional.

“I am excited for the opportunity that Jaclyn has given me by allowing me to become the head coach at Georgia Southwestern State,” Danna saidl. “I think I’m walking into a good situation. We have great group of players in place for 2010-11, along with great facilities and I think we can do some good things here.”

An active participant in Professional Golfers’ Association of America Gulf States events, Danna earned enough points to make the 2010 Louisiana PGA Mackel Cup team, which is a tournament that pairs the top PGA professionals from Louisiana against the top PGA professionals from Mississippi.

“He has a great passion for the game and is committed to building a championship team,” Kaylor said. “I fully believe he can and will attain that goal.”

In addition to serving as a club instructor, Danna was involved in player development in his hometown of Baton Rouge, La., while working with the junior golf program at the Santa Maria Golf Academy.

“Andrew has tackled this job with such energy and enthusiasm that I can’t help but be excited about the plans he has for the team and the direction in which he will lead our program,” Kaylor added.

A 2006 graduate of Mississippi State University, Danna earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Professional Golf Management and currently holds a Class “A” PGA Professional status.

“I’m excited to be here,” Danna said. “With the right structure, the right program in place and the right attitude, I think we’ll give ourselves a great opportunity to win.

“We’re looking to put ourselves in a position to be successful.”

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NEW FACES FOR THE GSW MEN”S SOCCER PROGRAM: GSW men’s soccer coach Warren Russ announced the Hurricanes seven-member signing class for 2010 earlier this week.

“I am very excited to begin working with this new group of players,” Russ said. “I believe we have addressed some issues and have safeguarded the future of the program with these new additions.”

Among the signees are: Andrew College transfer Francisco Depaz; Delta State transfer Eric Haygood; Hiram College transfer Kyle Hutton; Truett-McConnell transfer Shane McKay; Thomson High’s Jay Bieltz; James County High’s Dayne Foti and Riverside Military School’s Clinton Hawkins.

“Each of these young men will add in a unique way to our existing group and I can’t wait to get them on campus and get started,” Russ said. “Not only are they good players, but they are all of the character type that we are looking for at GSW and I expect them to represent the University as well as our current group has done in the past.”

The Hurricanes open the 2010 season at home against Eckerd College on Sept. 3.