Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University Vice-President and Director of Athletics Joe Reich has announced the hiring of Christian Pickerel as the head men's and women's golf coach at Wingate University. A Wingate golf alum, Pickerel has spent time coaching at Queens University and Lincoln Memorial University.

"There is something truly special about coming home," Pickerel says. "I would like to thank Joe Reich and the entire athletic department for trusting me to lead this program. As a former student-athlete and graduate, returning as the head coach is both a privilege and a responsibility that I embrace with great pride. Wingate University cultivated my love for the game of golf and I hope to do the same for our student-athletes. Returning to lead this program is an incredible honor, and I look forward to building upon the tradition of excellence that makes Wingate so special."

Pickerel spent four years playing golf for the Bulldogs, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in December of 2019, majoring in Exercise Science. He served as a junior golf coach and volunteer golf coach at Wingate, then worked in strength and conditioning at Athens Christian School. Pickerel then spent three years as a PGA Tour Superstore Retail Sales Associate.

"We are really excited to be bringing Christian back to Wingate," Reich says. "His professionalism and golf knowledge are outstanding."

Pickerel joined the Lincoln Memorial coaching staff in 2022, serving as the women's golf assistant coach through the 2025 season. The team cracked the top 25 for the first time in program history, breaking the season scoring average in 2024. The team broke that record in his final season in 2025, climbing to as high as #22 in the national rankings. Pickerel also served as a men's assistant coach, helping the Railsplitters win back-to-back SAC titles in 2024 and 2025. The 2025 squad finished in the top 10 at the NCAA D2 National Championships.

Pickerel took over as the Director of Golf at Queens University in 2025, overseeing the men's and women's golf programs at the Division I university. The Royals had their highest finisher in the A-Sun Conference Championship in 2026, a tie for sixth. Queens also had its first-ever individual tournament winner in its Division I history during the 2026 season.

Pickerel will take over for one of the most successful golf programs in Division II. The women's golf team has won back-to-back SAC titles and advanced to nationals in back-to-back seasons. The 2026 season saw the 'Dogs win the stroke play portion of the NCAA championships by 21 shots, advancing to the national semifinals. The Bulldogs also won their first-ever region title in 2026. The Wingate men also captured the 2026 SAC title. The 'Dogs have made three consecutive trips to nationals, advancing to the national semifinals in 2025 while advancing to the national title match in 2026, finishing as the national runner-up.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 18 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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