Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

8/9/2010 at 3:46pm

CONWAY - The University of Central Arkansas has added Richard Johnson and Shane McClung to its golf coaching staffs, according to head coach Ryke Dismuke.

The pair replaces Jack O’Keefe, who went to Ole Miss, and Jeff Jenkins, who left for Texas Tech.

Johnson, a native of Cardiff, Wales and a graduate of Augusta (Ga.) State, has an extensive professional playing background. He was No. 1 on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2007 and won the Nationwide Tour Championship that year. Johnson finished in the top 200 on the PGA Tour in 2008 and rose as high as No. 113 on the Official Golf World Rankings in 2007. He has been based out of Fort Smith while playing on the PGA and Nationwide tours. He will be the men’s assistant coach at UCA.

McClung, from North Little Rock and a UALR graduate, has been a Nike golf rep for the past year and has a solid background in golf instruction. He most recently was an instructor at The Country Club of Arkansas in Maumelle. McClung served as head golf coach at UALR for two years (2005-07) and was an assistant for another year. He was also assistant golf professional at the First Tee of Arkansas in Little Rock. McClung will be the women's assistant coach.

“I feel extremely blessed to have these two guys on board," said Dismuke. who is starting his eighth season as head coach and 11th overall at UCA. “As we move into our first year of Division 1 eligibility, their knowledge and experience will definitely help us continue our forward progress. Besides their knowledge of the game, these guys are also good people. Not only will they be great representatives of UCA golf, but of the athletic department as well."