HANCEVILLE, Ala. — The Wallace State men’s golf fall season gets underway this week under the leadership of new head coach Kayland Wilson.
Wilson comes to Wallace State after serving as the head coach for the men’s and women’s golf teams at Faulkner University. In the 2021-2022 season, she led the men’s team to a Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) title, becoming the first female head coach in any sport and at any level to win a men’s conference title. That year, she was also named the SSAC Men’s Golf Coach of the Year.
“We are extremely excited to have Kayland Wilson on board at Wallace State,” said Karolewics. “While winning is close to the top of her priority list, she is committed even more to making sure her players not only get better as golfers, but leave her program as better people, which fits perfectly with the college’s goals as well.”
The men’s golf team opening tournament of 2024-2025 takes place in Pensacola, Fla., against a field of teams from Georgia, Alabama and Florida.
Before being hired by Wallace State, Wilson took a sabbatical from Faulkner State after the birth of her daughter, Eleanor James who is now 1 year old. Wilson is married to former Wallace State golfer Blaise Wilson and has strong ties to the area. Her mother-in-law in Ashley Wilson, is the founder of Curt’s Closet.
A native of Farragut, Tenn., Wilson played golf at Freed-Hardeman University outside of Memphis, Tenn. A PGA Level I Associate she was an assistant pro at Valley Hills Country Club in Huntsville and a certified swing coach at GolfTech before coaching at Faulkner University.
Wilson takes over for former men’s golf coach Sylas Elliot, who was hired as the men’s golf coach at Jacksonville State University.
“I am extremely grateful and humbled to be the next head men’s golf coach at Wallace State,” Wilson said. “This is a historic program and I feel blessed to be a small part of the next chapter. I have some big shoes to fill following Coach Elliot and especially Coach Dan York. His impact on college golf will be recognized for generations, and to have my name even considered by his means more than I can even express.”
Wilson expects this season to be an exciting for the men’s golf program.
“I have high expectations for these guys on and off the course,” she said. “They are unbelievably talented young men and I know with their work ethic we are going to be a force to be reckoned with. I truly believe this team is National Championship caliber, and I will give them my all to get them ready to bring the trophy back home.”
The men’s golf team finished 19th in the nation and second in the Alabama Community College Region 22 Conference for the 2023-2024 season. The program has 13 ACCC/Region 22 championships and was an NJCAA Division I national runner-up three times and have two NJCAA individual national champions (Aksel Olsen and Cooper Brown). Two players have gone on to become PGA Tour players: Brett Wetterich and Fredrick Jacobsen.
