Jean Macon Named Director of Golf at Chicago State University

After a national search, Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Monique Carroll announced today that the 2023 USCAA Golf Coach of the Year Jean Macon has been named the Director of Golf Programs at Chicago State University. Coach Jean Macon is the first African American and female to be named USCAA Golf Coach of the Year.

"I am excited to bring someone of Coach Macon's caliber to Chicago State University," said CSU Vice President / Director of Athletics Dr. Monique Carroll. "Her passion for the game, her attention to detail, and her accolades are equally impressive and are a perfect fit to the culture we are establishing throughout our athletics department and University. I look forward to her immediate impact on elevating our student-athletes and our program to new heights." 

The US Army veteran has dedicated her life to empowering those around her. Coach joins the Cougars with nearly 20 years' experience coaching and teaching golf, most recently as the first African American head men's and women's golf coach at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte. During the Fall 2021 season, she coached the men's team to a third-place finish at the USCAA Golf National Championships in the program's first-ever appearance. During her first full year as the head coach, she guided the JWU men's team to the 2022 USCAA National Championship. The Wildcats shot the lowest team score on each of the two days of the tournament as they cruised to a 24-stroke victory. In addition, Michaela Hawkins claimed the USCAA Women's National Invitational Championship, shooting consecutive career-best rounds of 80 followed by a 78 for a seven-shot win. Four Wildcats also earned USCAA All-American honors while another three were named to the USCAA All-Academic team.

Macon is an LPGA Teaching Professional with over 15 years of teaching experience. She owns and operates Flagstick Golf Academy (FGA) in the greater Charlotte region where has put her teaching and coaching knowledge to use, teaching the game of golf to a wide spectrum of students ranging from youth, disabled veterans, senior citizens and adults. After starting FGA, Macon became a teaching professional at TPC Piper Glen in Charlotte. She also previously served as a volunteer coach for Director of Golf Sam Puryear and the Queens University women's golf team. She has also served as an instructor for Duke University Associate Head Golf Coach Jon Whithaus and his Nike Junior Golf Camps. In addition, she is an instructor with the First Tee of Charlotte.
 
"I'm excited to get going at Chicago State," Macon said. "I'm ready to continue to develop student-athletes and provide them with a world-class experience. I believe leading by example through love, positivity and encouragement will help the students excel both on and off the golf course." 
 
Before beginning her career in golf, Macon served in the United States Army and is an Iraqi War veteran. Following her military duty, she became a police officer in Rock Hill, South Carolina and served in law enforcement for over 12 years. Macon is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, earning a B.A. in Sociology.

About Chicago State Athletics
Chicago State University competes in the Northeast Conference (effective July 2024) and sponsors 16 Division I intercollegiate athletics teams involving over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, triathlon and volleyball. 

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