Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

7/26/2010 at 6:21pm

CONWAY - The University of Central Arkansas golf programs have lost two assistant coaches to major conference schools this week. Assistant coach Jack O’Keefe is headed to the Southeastern Conference as an assistant at Ole Miss, while Jeff Jenkins will be joining the staff at Top 10 Texas Tech.

“Jack and Jeff will be very difficult to replace," said Ryke Dismuke, UCA’s head coach. “They are both great coaches and also people of great character. We were fortunate to have them for the length of time we did. They were definitely instrumental in our success and our rise in the national rankings.

“I feel certain they will do very well wherever they go and we wish them the best. I know it will be a tall order to replace them."

O’Keefe, who has been at UCA since 2006, was an All-American golfer at the University of Arkansas and played professionally for 10 years. Before joining UCA, the Benton native was an assistant pro at Hot Springs Country Club.

Jenkins spent two years at UCA after a successful playing career at Arkansas Tech.

“To have two assistant coaches secure assistant jobs at major conference schools is quite an accomplishment and says a great deal about our Division I golf program," Brad Teague, UCA’s director of athletics, said. “Coach Dismuke and his staff have done a fine job bringing our men’s and women’s golf program to among the elite in our conference. We are happy for Coach O’Keefe and Coach Jenkins for their moves."

The UCA women’s program has produced the Golfer of the Year in the Southland Conference the past three years, while the team tied for second place in the conference championship this season. The men’s program finished second at the SLC championships and had five players named All-Southland Conference in 2010, all from a team that featured no seniors. Dismuke has guided the UCA golf program since 2003.

Tagged: Ryke Dismuke, Brad Teague