Nick Mackay has been named assistant men's golf coach, Kennesaw State head coach
Bryant Odom announced on Friday.
"We are fortunate to have Nick join us on the coaching staff. Nick brings a lot to the table from his playing and coaching experience. We quickly found common ground on our philosophies and ideas for competing at the highest level. He is well organized with his practice drills and routines for the team and is prepared to help develop our golfers towards their goals," Odom said. "As a native of Australia, he has close ties to the talented junior golfers from his home country and abroad that will help us find future Owls for an impactful team dynamic. I am excited that Nick and his young family are in the Nest."
Mackay comes to KSU from Georgia State where he spent the two seasons serving as an assistant coach with the men's team. While at GSU, the Panthers recorded a round of 5-under par 275 at the 2019 Maui Jim Intercollegiate which tied for the seventh-lowest round in program history. He guided graduate transfer Ashton Poole to a 72.13 scoring average in 2019-20.
"In many ways this feels like a homecoming," Mackay said. "It's been wonderful to see so many familiar faces coming back to KSU. We have had some great men's and women's teams in the past and I hope my presence will help push this squad to new heights. I cannot thank Coach Odom enough for the opportunity and I am very much looking forward to getting started."
Prior to GSU, Mackay worked as a player agent for Blue Giraffe Sports helping to manage the careers of PGA and LPGA Tour professionals including Lexi Thompson, Jhonattan Vegas, Stuart Appleby, and Juli Inkster from 2015-18. He also spent time running a junior academy in Johns Creek, Ga.
Mackay served as an assistant women's golf coach at Kennesaw State from 2013-15. During that time KSU captured nine top-five finishes. He assisted the Owls in winning the 2015 ASUN Championship. He also helped Dulcie Sverdloff and
Henriette Nielsen earn Freshmen of the Year honors. Seven Owls earned all-conference honors during Mackay's time at KSU.
Mackay played at Jacksonville State from 2001-2004. During his career at JSU, Mackay helped the Gamecocks capture back-to-back Atlantic Sun Conference titles in 2002 and 2003 and earned all-conference honors in 2003. As a senior, he led Jacksonville State to the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Championship and was named the conference's 2004 Player of the Year and Athlete of the Year.
After placing third at the 2004 Northeast Amateur Championship and earning a No. 40 world amateur ranking during that summer, Mackay made his professional debut at the 2005 Cordoba Open in Cordoba, Argentina. He also competed on the NGA Hooters, E Golf, Nationwide, South American and Australasian professional tours.
A native of Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia, Mackay earned a bachelor's degree in communications with an emphasis in print journalism/English from Jacksonville State in 2005. He earned his masters in sports management from Georgia State in 2015.
