Former Wolverine Pumford Rejoins Program as Assistant Coach
7/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
July 15, 2011
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan head men's golf coach Chris Whitten announced today (Friday, July 15) the hiring of former captain Nick Pumford (2006-09) as the assistant coach for the Wolverine program.
"Having played here Nick has a great understanding of Michigan's traditions," said Whitten. "He was part of this program's resurgence and is a very knowledgeable player. He's a positive person with a lot of energy and has a great teaching mentality that will allow him to immediately connect with our players. I am thrilled he has rejoined the program."
"I am extremely excited for the opportunity Chris has given me to come back and coach at my alma mater," said Pumford. "Playing at Michigan was a special time in my life and to be able to come back to the program as a coach is a dream come true. Chris has the desire, passion and intensity it takes to run a successful program and I am excited to be a part of Michigan's future success."
Following a brief professional playing career, Pumford began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Georgia State under head coach Joe Inman during the 2010-11 season. During his lone season with the Panthers, GSU captured three top-10 finishes, including a seventh-place finish at the CAA Championships.
While at Michigan, Pumford earned a general studies degree and was a four-year letterwinner. During his collegiate playing career, Pumford started 29 of 33 events and recorded five top-10 individual finishes, including winning the 2007 Wolf Run Intercollegiate. He helped U-M return to the NCAA postseason after an eight-year absence with back-to-back regional selections in 2008 and 2009.
In 2009, the Wolverines earned a fifth-place team finish at the NCAA Regional, advancing to the NCAA Finals for the first time in 12 years. In the new NCAA national championship format, Michigan closed with a sixth-place team finish in stroke play to advance to the team match play finals. After a first-round win over No. 3 seed USC, the Wolverines were eliminated by eventual national champion Texas A&M in the national semifinal. As a senior co-captain, Pumford started all 14 tournaments and was U-M's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
A 2004 graduate of St. Charles High School, Pumford was a candidate for Michigan's Mr. Golf Award and earned Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association Golf (MIGCA) Super Team honors. He was a three-time Division III All-State performer (2002, '03, '04) and won 11 tournaments in his four years.
Pumford's amateur playing career was highlighted by qualifying for the 2009 U.S. Amateur Championship, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the Michigan Amateur Championship on two different occasions, and earning two top-20 finishes at the Michigan Open (2006, '10).
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
