Men's Golf
- Title:
- Head Golf Coach
- Email:
- ersykes@ncsu.edu
- Phone:
- (919) 515-3317
 |
- Five-time ACC Coach of the Year (2017, 2000, 1990, 1988, 1982)
- Inducted into the Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001
One of the most respected and successful men's golf coaches in NCAA history, Richard Sykes continues to build the excellence and tradition of men's golf at NC State. In his 46th year as head coach of the Wolfpack, Sykes has guided the men's golf program into the national rankings and national prominence on an annual basis.
Leading NC State to postseason NCAA play nearly every season, Sykes always has and always will deflect the credit for the team's success to his players.
For his accomplishments at the helm of the Pack, Sykes was selected into the Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001 by the Golf Coaches Association of America. A five-time ACC Coach of the Year, Sykes was bestowed the honor in 1982, 1988, 1990, 2000, and 2017
During the 1989-90 season, Sykes guided the program to its first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference Championship. Along with that long-awaited team title came ACC Coach of the Year and District III Coach of the Year honors as well.
The Wolfpack's successful golf fortunes go beyond the conference level as well. NC State has qualified for 24 NCAA Regionals as a team and 12 NCAA Championships as a team during Sykes' career as head coach, finishing seasons among the nation's elite for over four decades. Including regular season and postseason play, Sykes’ squads have won a total of 53 team tournament titles throughout his career, averaging more than one per season. In 2009, Sykes coached Matt Hill to the NCAA Championship, NCAA Regional Championship, and co-ACC Championship.
Sykes has coached six ACC Champions, two ACC Players of the Year, three ACC Rookies of the Year, 48 All-ACC selections and 34 All-Americans. Sykes was also elected as the coach of the West squad in the 1999 East-West All-Star matches. Sykes has also seen many former players enjoy solid professional golf careers, including Tim Clark, Carl Pettersson, Marc Turnesa, Garth Mulroy, Hank Kim, Jeff Lankford, Kelly Mitchum, Vance Heafner, Justin Walters and the aforementioned Matt Hill.
Clark and Pettersson have been Sykes' most successful protege's to date. Clark was one of 12 international players selected to compete in the 2003 President's Cup against the Americans, and again in 2005. He won the 2010 THE PLAYERS Championship for his first win on the PGA TOUR.
Pettersson won his fifth career PGA TOUR event in 2012 at the RBC Heritage and is one of only 35 active players on tour that can claim five wins on tour.
The two have each made over $18 million, ranking among the top-50 players all-time on the PGA TOUR in career earnings.
A Class A member of the PGA, Sykes was the head pro at Wendell Country Club in Wendell, N.C., before coming to NC State. Sykes is a 1968 graduate of NC State, where he earned his degree in recreation and parks administration.
Sykes was a member of the freshman track team while at NC State, and was also on the men's varsity golf team for the 1965-66 season.
Sykes carries the title of Assistant Athletics Director for Golf Operations at NC State. He oversaw the completion of the Lonnie Poole Golf Course, NC State's home golf course designed by Arnold Palmer's Course Design Company. A former member of the National Advisory Board for the Golf Coaches Association of America, Sykes has served on the NCAA Selection Committee and has been the chairman as well.
Married to the former Pam Manning of Zebulon, the Sykes have four children: David, Rick, Paige and Stacy, and five grandchildren: Alison, Cody, Samantha, Jack and Eddie.
May 9, 2011: Pack Golf Coach Still Gets it (Raleigh N&O)
April 12, 2016: Sykes Brings Longevity to Golf Team (Technician)
