Colorado Buffaloes Golf Camp

Coach Roy Edwards, Men's Golf

Roy Edwards , a veteran assistant coach at two schools, has been named the head men’s golf coach at the University of Colorado, athletic director Mike Bohn announced on July 14, 2006.

Edwards comes to Colorado from his alma mater, the University of Kansas, where he has served as the assistant for both the men’s and women’s programs for the past four years. He held the same position at Vanderbilt University for a year prior to returning to KU.

One could say the “29’s are wild.” Edwards is 29, and the two full-time coaches he replaces both served the CU golf team for 29 years as head coach.

Edwards replaces Mark Simpson , who passed away from complications due to lung cancer at the age of 55 last December 5. Simpson had held the post since 1977, when he replaced his college head coach, Les Fowler . Fowler took over as player-coach in 1948 and remained on board until Simpson, his assistant, replaced him.

Thus, Edwards becomes just CU’s third full-time head coach since 1948, though he actually may be the oldest person ever hired for the position, as Fowler took over when he was 23 with Simpson at the age of 27.

Simpson’s former assistant, Brad Neher , had served as interim head coach upon Simpson’s death until April, when he stepped aside for personal reasons. Three assistant athletic directors have been coordinating all aspects of the program since.

“Roy’s vision for long term success and prominence of the golf program is refreshing,” CU athletic director Mike Bohn said. “He’s proven to have played an integral role in producing results as an assistant coach at Kansas and Vanderbilt. We look forward to his energy, passion and golf knowledge to bring immediate and long-lasting results.”

"Coach Fowler and Coach Simpson have built an extremely proud legacy at the University of Colorado,” Edwards said. “It’s a privilege to follow them at CU, which is truly one of the great institutions in the world and it is an honor to be named its head men's golf coach. I am looking forward to meeting with the people of Boulder, the alumni and supporters of the program, the CU staff and the members of the men's golf team so we can perform to the high standards that we all expect in the classroom, on the golf course and in the community.

"It is a tremendous opportunity to share in the vision of Mike Bohn and his talented and enthusiastic staff," he added.

At Kansas, he was heavily involved in recruiting and the day-to-day functions for both the men’s and women’s teams, managed the Jayhawks Birdie Club and was the main contact for both golf camps. A KU graduate, he returned to his alma mater in August 2002 as the assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s programs and further developed all the skills necessary to one day become a head coach.

He coordinated and managed a $1 million-plus fundraising campaign for KU’s golf practice facility, founded and coordinated the annual booster club program, oversaw program communications, budgeting, alumni-parent relations and condition programs, and cording all aspects of official and unofficial visits for the recruiting process, including prospect evaluation and communication. He also was designated as the head coach on numerous occasions, including for 2003 and 2004 NCAA regional play.

He was one of three finalists for the 2004 Golf Coaches Association of America Assistant Coach of the Year, named for Jan Strickland. The award is given to the NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA assistant coach who has excelled in working with their student-athletes both on the course and in the classroom.

At Kansas, he helped coach six first-team All-Big 12 players (five men, one woman) and four Academic All-Americans. He started his coaching career as a volunteer/graduate assistant in 1998, working three years in that capacity before moving on to Vanderbilt for his first full-time assistant coaching position. During this time, he was also the Junior Golf Director for the Kansas Golf Association, running all activities for over 600 junior members of the KGA.

He was the assistant for both the men’s and women’s teams at Vanderbilt from May 2001 until returning to his alma mater the following year. At Vandy, he headed the Commodore Golf Day and the Mason Rudolph Intercollegiate Golf Championships, and was involved in Commodore recruiting as well as the day-to-day practice and traveling schedules. He was a part of history as both teams experienced two of the best seasons in the programs' existence the 2001-02 academic year and had a hand in coaching a pair of first-team All-Southeastern Conference players, including Brandt Snedeker, a first-team All-American.

Between KU and Vanderbilt, he coached five players who attained some level of All-American status, ranging from first-team to honorable mention.

A three-year member of the Jayhawk golf team, he lettered as a senior under legendary and long-time coach Ross Randall and earned his bachelor’s of science degree in business administration from Kansas in 2000. His career playing highlights include being named the PGA Midwest Section Player of the Year in 1995 and the Heart of America Four-Ball champion in 1997. As a student, he was also heavily involved on KU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and held several leadership roles on campus.

Simpson and Randall were good friends, and their teams would cross paths during the regular season four or five on the average before the league championships. Not including his year at Vanderbilt, Edwards was with the Jayhawks for 56 tournaments as a player or assistant coach since 1996 that the two schools were in the same field, aiding his familiarity with the CU program.

Edwards’ family has a long history with the University of Kansas. His father, R.A., is a distinguished alumni who was awarded the 2002 Fred Ellsworth Medallion for "unique and significant service to the university." A grandfather was a yell-leader in the 1930s and was honored by the 1988 National Champion Jayhawk basketball team, and two grandparents were also awarded the Ellsworth medal.

He is also the nephew of Ray Evans, who is recognized as one of the greatest athletes in KU history. A two-time All-American in basketball (1942-43), he became Kansas' first football All-America award winner after returning from World War II in 1947.

A native of Kansas City, he was a four-year letterman in golf at Hutchinson (Kan.) High School and was an Eagle Scout.