NORMAN, Okla. — Bellevue University head men's golf coach Rob Brown has been named a finalist for the 2022 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year Award presented by Golf Pride Grips as announced by the GCAA. The Williams Award honors the national coach of the year in NAIA men's golf.

The five finalists are Rob Brown of Bellevue, Mike Cook of Coastal Georgia, Maddux Lytle of Point, Brandon Miller of Keiser, and Ben Rickett of Dalton State. 

Bellevue won five tournaments in 2021-22 under Brown, the North Star Athletic Association Coach of the Year, including a stretch of four straight throughout September and early October. The Bruins won the NSAA Championship and were led by four first-team all-NSAA members, including NSAA Men's Golfer of the Year Rodrigo Navarrete. 

All five finalists are coaching this week at the 2022 NAIA National Championships at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

Cook helped lead the Mariners to seven top-three finishes and two wins this season. He fielded three First-Team All-Sun Conference players and finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in the Bushnell/Golfweek NAIA Coaches Poll.

Point finished in the top five in nine of their 11 tournaments this season under Lytle, winning three times. The Skyhawks fielded two All-Appalachian Athletic Conference team members, including Jack Nicklaus Award finalist Cole Stevens.   

Miller, the Sun Conference Coach of the Year, helped lead Keiser to eight victories in 2021-22, including in their first three fall tournaments and at the Sun Conference Championship. The Seahawks were led on the course by three Jack Nicklaus Award finalists, including Sun Conference Golfer and Freshman of the Year Jack Maxey.  

Dalton State finished in the top five eight times this season under Rickett, winning three times. The Eagles had four players earn All-Southern States Athletic Conference honors this season, including SSAC Player of the Year Matthew Cleary. 

Bellevue is currently in third place after three rounds of play in the NAIA National Championships.