Men's Golf | 6/20/2017 9:40:00 AM

Wingate, N.C.----As Wingate University head men's golf coach Corey Iacofano moves to the next chapter of his professional life, he will look back fondly on his six years running the Bulldog program. As excited as he was when Wingate won its first South Atlantic Conference title, Iacofano is even more thrilled for the relationships he built.
 
"I will cherish the relationships I have made with both our current and alumni student-athletes," Iacofano says. "We have been able to bring multiple teams together at homecoming…this will always be very special to me. We've had 20-25 men's golf alumni attend our Homecoming event…and we look for this to grow."
 
"We appreciate the contributions Corey Iacofano made as a student-athlete, a graduate assistant coach and as the head men's golf coach at Wingate University," vice-president and director of athletics Steve Poston says. "He is certainly leaving his mark in a positive way."
 
"Corey's team has always represented Wingate University in a positive manner…both on the golf course and in the classroom," Poston says. "While we are disappointed to see Corey go…we believe his future is bright. We know he will find similar successes in the business world."
 
Iacofano's office is full of Bulldog golf banners and trophies, making it hard to leave his two-time alma mater. "This was a tough decision for me," Iacofano says. "I've had a great time at Wingate…when you do the math, I've spent a third of my life here. I am very grateful to Dr. Rhett Brown, Dr. Jerry McGee, Mr. Steve Poston and Dr. Jerry Surratt for the many opportunities I was given."
 
Wingate golf followers would say it was life well spent. In 2012, Iacofano led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament and their first-ever South Atlantic Conference tournament championship. He was also named SAC Coach of the Year for his efforts. Wingate finished 17th in the 2012 NCAA South/Southeast Regionals during the team's first-ever NCAA regional appearance.

"Winning the 2012 SAC title is one of my top memories," Iacofano says. "I stay in good contact with this team…we talk all the time about our SAC championship run."
 
For Iacofano, the relationships built with the 2012 team are equal to the hardware acquired along the way. "(2012 team members) Garrett Dahms, Braden Jackson and Antoine Le Saux are getting married this year," Iacofano says. "My teammate Spencer Percy is getting married this year as well (Iacofano also coached Percy as a WU graduate assistant coach). I am looking forward to re-connecting with many teammates, classmates and friends in the coming months."
 
Wingate finished second in the SAC tournament three consecutive seasons (2013, 2014 and 2015) during Iacofano's tenure. In addition, he helped Brian Denton and Benedict Gebhardt qualify for the NCAA regionals as individuals in back-to-back years (2013, 2014). Iacofano was SAC Coach of the Year in 2015, leading the Bulldogs to a 14th place in the NCAA South/Southeast Regionals.
 
Iacofano coached Wingate's first men's golf Academic All-America®, as Braden Jackson made the at-large first team in 2012. Five Bulldogs qualified for the 2017 SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, which will be announced later this summer.
 
As a Bulldog student-athlete, Iacofano was named All-Tournament in the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Championship his senior year. He also received the prestigious J. Ralph Hargett Spirit of the Game Award, presented by the league's head coaches. The same season, he won the 2008 J. Ralph Hargett Memorial Intercollegiate on the way to leading the 'Dogs to the tournament title. Iacofano received Wingate's MVP award his senior year.

Iacofano believes his senior year paved the way for his entry into coaching. "Winning the Hargett Spirit of the Game Award from the SAC coaches and helping my team win the Hargett Memorial (my senior year) were both big achievements for me," Iacofano says. "I was fortunate enough to be the Hargett medalist as well. I think winning these recognitions named in honor of one of our previous head coaches (the late Ralph Hargett)…foreshadowed my entry into a coaching career."
 
Iacofano will begin his new occupational journey later this month, as he joins the team at Dealer Tire Company in Charlotte. Dealer Tire Company has its headquarters in Cleveland. Iacofano hopes to advance to the corporation's home office down the road, which would be a homecoming for him. Iacofano hails from Painesville, Ohio, where he attended Perry High School.
 
Wingate University will begin a national search for its new head men's golf coach immediately. Ten Bulldog men's golf student-athletes are eligible to return for the 2017-18 campaign, including four of the previous season's top five.
 
What They Are Saying about Corey Iacofano…
 
Previous Wingate head men's golf coach Dr. Jerry Surratt:
 
"Corey has made a significant contribution to the Wingate Men's Golf program, first as a player, then as my graduate assistant and finally as the men's head coach. Corey knows the game of golf and how to improve his own game and to teach others those same skills. In my opinion, his most important impact has been his consistent example of honesty, hard work, and respect for other persons. Competing coaches complimented him frequently and opposing players respected him. He has carried the Wingate Men's Golf program a long distance in only a few years…he will be remembered by players and fellow coaches alike as a positive influence in Wingate Athletics. We thank him for his service and wish him the very best as his career goes forward."
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY  
 
Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,200 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 35 minors, 12 career concentrations, nine pre-professional programs, master's degrees in accounting, business, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in education, pharmacy and physical therapy.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 11 years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 93 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate is number one in this millennium with 93 Academic All-America® honorees. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 102 lifetime Academic All-America® picks. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.