SDSU names new men's and women's golf coach

The South Dakota State golf program made a considerable leap Monday in naming its new coach. Casey VanDamme joins the Jackrabbits after five years as an assistant at the University of Tennessee.

During that stretch, the Volunteers spent time at No. 1 in the NCAA Division I men's rankings, produced four All-Americans and placed two amateurs in The Masters – both in 2014.

When SDSU last hired a golf coach, the position wasn't even fulltime. But the relative lack of history and an often-hostile climate didn't deter the 36-year-old from accepting the job. He replaces Jared Baszler, who stepped down in May at the end of his 11th season in order to pursue another career path.

"There's unlimited potential there," VanDamme said via phone. "The weather doesn't scare me at all. I think that's going to be a positive to make players better – there's never time for (development) at a southern school."

VanDamme grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan then played at Marquette and Northern Michigan.

He spent seven years as an instructor at the Jim McLean Golf School prior to joining the Volunteers and helping them to four NCAA tournament berths. In 2013-14, he was named assistant coach of the year in the UT athletic department.

"He thinks he can develop players better than anybody, and he can bring in a higher level of recruit," Jacks athletic director Justin Sell said. "He's excited about the challenge of taking a northern climate school and going out and getting after it."

VanDamme will spend the next few days recruiting in Houston before returning to Knoxville to wrap up his duties with Tennessee. Then he'll move to Brookings with his wife and three children.