John Hackney enters his third season as the leader of the Wingate men’s golf program in 2019-20. The Bulldogs had seven top-seven finishes in 2018-19 with a season-best second place in the 19th annual J. Ralph Hargett Memorial Intercollegiate golf tournament. Wingate was third in the Griffin Invitational and the McDonough Cup.
During Hackney’s second WU season, three Bulldogs had one top-five showing each: Tim Bombosch, Charles Joubert and Yannick Koehnen. Joubert finished second in the Hargett Memorial with a four-under-par 212 on Wingate’s home course, the Stonebridge Golf Club. Bombosch and Philip Coles (’19) were Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars for the 2018-19 season.
In his first WU campaign, Hackney helped the Bulldogs claim third place in the SAC championship tournament in April of 2018. Wingate’s Joubert earned a spot on the SAC all-tournament first team by virtue of his tie for fifth place. Earlier, Joubert was named to the honorable mention All-SAC team. He had five top 10 finishes as a sophomore.
The Bulldogs won Catawba’s Rendleman event in the spring of 2018. In addition, Wingate posted three third-place finishes in Hackney’s first season: (Hargett Memorial, Tennessee River Rumble and SAC tournament). Jarett Stowe (’19) earned medalist honors in the 2018 Hargett Memorial in his final home appearance.
Prior to joining the Wingate family, Hackney spent three seasons as the head men’s and women’s golf coach at California Baptist University in Riverside. He helped usher in the NCAA Division II era at CBU with excellent results. On the men’s side, Hackney helped the Lancers to top 20 national rankings in two of his three seasons. Cal Baptist tied for fifth at the 2016 NCAA Division II national championships, falling 3-2 to number four Florida Southern in the national quarterfinals.
Hackney’s CBU women’s golf teams won 10 events (of 31) during his tenure. The Lancers were the number one team in the nation during the fall of 2015, charting in the top five each of his three campaigns. The California Baptist women’s golf team compiled a head-to-head overall record of 330-61-7 (.844) during his stint at the school. The CBU Lancers made NCAA women’s golf tournament appearances in each of his three seasons.
Wingate Bulldog men’s golf followers will remember Hackney as the head men’s golf coach at Conference Carolinas member Barton for 16 seasons (1998-2013). Hackney directed the Barton Bulldogs to 14 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and 45 team titles in his 16 years at the Wilson school. Barton spent time in the NCAA Division II top 25 poll during 12 of his final 13 seasons, including top 10 mentions for seven seasons.
During Hackney’s final three Barton seasons, the BC Bulldogs posted a phenomenal 341-82-8 (.806) head-to-head record. He was named Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year five times and regional Coach of the Year three times. Hackney mentored 11 All-Americans, 11 Scholar All-Americans and one Freshman All-American. The Barton Bulldogs hosted 33 intercollegiate men’s golf tournaments during his time, including two NCAA Division II South/Southeast Super Regionals. Hackney also coached the Barton women’s golf team for two seasons.
In addition to his coaching exploits, Hackney spent 17 years as the sports information director at Barton. He managed publicity and media requests for 14 intercollegiate sports, supervising five-to-10 work study students per year. Hackney also founded the cross country program at Barton, spending three seasons as head coach. With his recruits, the Bulldogs qualified for the 2000 NCAA national championships. Hackney coached two female individual Conference Carolinas champions as well.
Hackney graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Hackney and his wife Marie live in Monroe.
