Ryan Chandler is returning home to his Alma mater as the new head coach for the Union University golf programs.
According to a press release, Chandler starts immediately and his first tournament is scheduled for February 25-26 in the Badger Invitational in Mobile, Alabama.
“We are excited to have Ryan return to Union to lead our men’s and women’s golf teams,” said Tommy Sadler, Union’s Director of Athletics, “His experience as a college golfer, a player on two professional golf tours, and club pro will be very valuable in leading our student-athletes.”
Chandler takes over for one of his fellow Union teammates, Clay Mallard, who left in November 2018 to pursue other opportunities outside of coaching.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be back at Union University as the new head golf coach,” Chandler said. “I am excited about the opportunity to invest in the lives of these young men and women.
“My goal is to lead them spiritually and athletically in a way that provides a solid foundation for them when they graduate and leave our program.
“I am excited to develop strong relationships with our golf alumni who proudly support and encourage our student-athletes. The years I played at Union were some of the best years of my life. I love this University and this program.
I look forward to many years of growth and success here at Union. Go Dogs!”
A native of Kenton, and a 2007 graduate of Union City High School, Chandler is returning to the area he is very familiar with.
Since graduating from Union in 2011, Chandler has been in Sebring, Florida, pursuing a professional golf career and working in the business world.
He posted numerous top-10 finishes in professional tournaments on the West Florida Golf Tour and the Florida Professional Golf Tour.
He posted two second-place finishes, at OGA Tour 1-day Event at Champions Gate and at OGA Tour 1-Day Event at Grenelefe South.
He passed the PGA Player’s Ability Test at Disney’s Osprey Ridge Golf Course in Orlando in May 2013.
Chandler graduated from Union with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in December of 2011. During his three years at Union, Chandler earned TranSouth Conference Golfer of the Week three times, his teams won the TranSouth Conference Titles in 2010 and 2011, and his teams advanced to the NAIA National Tournament in 2010 and 2011.
Individually, Chandler was named to numerous all-tournament teams in his three years including a first-place medalist finish at the Jackson National Shootout in 2010.
In 2011, Chandler had seven top-10 finishes and four top-5 finishes. In 2010, he posted nine top-10 finishes and four top-5 finishes, while scoring five top-10 finishes and three top-5 finishes in 2009.
In 2013, he was inducted into the Union City High School Hall of Fame. Chandler was a district runner-up and all-district in high school as a sophomore and senior at Union City.
He married Maggie Statler in June 2013.
(PHOTO: Ryan Chandler – courtesy Steven Aldridge, Union University sports information department)
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