University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Jerry Weeks Named Southern Miss Men's Golf Coach
8/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Aug. 4, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Jerry Weeks, the Director of Golf at the Hattiesburg Country Club for the last 25 years, has been named men's golf coach at Southern Miss in an announcement by Athletics Director Richard Giannini Friday. The appointment is subject to approval by the Mississippi IHL Board of Trustees.
"We are excited that a person of Jerry Weeks' caliber will take over our men's golf program," Giannini said. "He is a man of great character, has outstanding people and organization skills and is a wonderful teacher of the game.
"Jerry is also a great communicator and has terrific selling skills to attract young student-athletes and donors to join him in moving our golf program to the next level. As a Class A PGA professional, Jerry has a great understanding and can teach the mechanics and mental aspects of golf."
Weeks, a quarter century member of the PGA of America, has played in the Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic five times, the Club's Professionals Championship, a 10-time member of the Mississippi Cup and participated in the Gulf States Section Match Play Championship event.
A two-time winner of the Horton Smith Award for the Gulf States PGA section, Weeks also garnered the Professional of the Year by the Mississippi PGA in 1984 and for the Southeast Region presented by Golf Industry Magazine in 1991.
Additionally, Weeks was nominated in 1990 as one of the "Best 100 Golf Operations in the United States" by Golf Shop Operations Magazine and was a previous winner of the Gulf State s Section "Merchandiser of the Year" for private clubs.
Weeks was selected as submitting one of the "Top Ten Golf Tips of All Time" by Golf Magazine and served as a past panelist for Golf Digest course rating along with being a rules official for numerous tournaments for the Gulf States PGA. He also had eight of his former assistants go on to become head golf professionals throughout the United States.
"I'm excited about joining the Southern Miss athletics family as its men's golf coach. I have had a great run at the Hattiesburg Country Club and it is difficult to leave at this time," Weeks said. "I appreciated all the wonderful friendships I have established; however its time to move to another chapter in my life.
"I have been teaching and coaching everyday for the past 25 years and now look forward to taking my experience to the collegiate level."
During his time at the Hattiesburg Country Club, Weeks has been responsible for the day-to-day golf operations as well as working with the course superintendent relating to the course conditioning and daily setup. His duties also included working with the formation and control of the annual budgets in addition to managing his time with various committees regarding tournaments and corporate outings. He also assisted with the instruction program at the Country Club.
Some tournaments hosted by Hattiesburg Country Club during Weeks' time there included the PGA Tour stop the Magnolia Classic, later named the Deposit Guaranty Classic from 1982-93, the Mississippi State Amateur three times, the Mississippi State Open twice, the PGA Sectional once, and in 1997 the Southern Region Club Pro Championship - one of four sites in America in 1997. HCC also played host to the 2002 Conference USA women's golf championship.
Here is what others have to say about Jerry Weeks:
Brad Brian, President of the Board of Directors at the Hattiesburg CC, former President of the ADP and current Vice President of the Coca Cola Mississippi Divisions
"As a strong supporter of Southern Miss, they have hired an absolute first-class act in Jerry Weeks. He is a great teacher and manager of people. He is so well respected in this entire region for his professionalism in the golf industry. Jerry will move the program in the right direction and his mannerisms with people will be outstanding. He takes great pride in his work and wants to be the very best. Jerry will have great support of the people in Hattiesburg who will want to see him succeed.
Jeff Bower, Southern Miss Head Football Coach
"Having been a very good friend of mine for over 20 years, Jerry is an outstanding teacher and very knowledgeable of the game. He is highly organized, well-respected by his peers and has enjoyed great success as a club professional. I am very confident he will do a great job for the Southern Miss golf team."
Sam Hall, former Southern Miss golf coach
"Southern Miss couldn't find a better person to lead its golf program. Jerry has a very good personally and will be a great fund-raiser. He will do a great job meeting the other college golf coaches and working with them. Jerry also does a great job with the student-athletes. I look forward to helping Jerry in any way I can."
