Randy Wylie introductory presser

Wylie succeeds 12-year head coach John Minor who resigned earlier in the month to pursue an opportunity in the private sector.

The former University of Tennessee will coach Carson-Newman at the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Championship in April.

"I feel like this is a college signing day and I'm a recruit, but I've only got one hat on the table," Wylie said as he opened up his press conference donning a blue C-N cap. "I'm thrilled to represent C-N. It's a terrific opportunity with a great Christian university. I want to be bring in kids who do well, graduate and contribute to this great Christian institution."

Wylie spent a decade at the University of Tennessee as both an assistant and volunteer assistant coach.  He will maintain his current position as a teaching pro at Fairways and Greens in Knoxville (he and C-N head women's golf coach Suzanne Strudwick are co-workers there). 

"Randy typifies the Carson-Newman standards and values that we want and have come to expect from all our head coaches." Morgan said. "He's a tremendous role model for young men and women.  He's an outstanding family man and he'll be able to teach more than just golf.  His Christian values and principals make him the perfect candidate."

Wylie was Tennessee's PGA of America Section Teacher of the Year for 2010, as voted by the PGA membership throughout the state. He already was named the Knoxville area's PGA Teacher of the Year for a second straight season and the third time since 2004.

"The thing that stands out the most is his experience," Morgan said. "Both from having played at the highest level from his collegiate days at Texas A&M through his professional career, and then coaching at the highest level in the SEC as well as in the PGA.  With that, he's as good a teacher of the game, particularly with the swing, as anyone who's presently in the south."

Wylie has been a consensus Golf Digest "Best Teacher in Tennessee" since 2003.

A 2008 inductee to the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame, Wylie won the 1984 Greater Knoxville Amateur and then played professionally for nine years. He was a member of the 1997 and 1998 Asian Golf Tour and made the cut in two U.S. Opens -- 1990 at Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago, and 1997 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.

"I've taught a few men and women who have come up here and played on both the men's and women's teams," Wylie said. "I've always admired what has been accomplished with these teams.  I know what we are capable of, and it's championships. I'm not going to come in and blow what they're doing up right now. We're going to talk core strategy going into the conference tournament at Sevierville.  Right now, we're not looking to rework the team."

Wylie's former boss, UT head coach Jim Kelson attended Wylie's presser. Kelson and Wylie have helped tutor a pair of Volunteer golfers who will play as two of five amateurs at the Masters in Oliver Goss and Garrick Porteous.   

Wylie has taught more than 30 juniors who have gone on to play golf at the collegiate level and he coached five All-Americans at UT.  

Wylie graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in finance after being awarded All-Southwest Conference honors for his college golf successes. 

He is married to Jennifer Schneider Wylie, a senior sales executive for WIVK Radio in Knoxville.

-CN-