Penley Named ACC Coach of the Year
Clemson, S.C.- For the ninth time in a fifth different decade in his celebrated career, Clemson men’s golf coach Larry Penley has been named the ACC Coach of the Year. The announcement was made Monday morning on the ACC Network”s Packer & Durham television program.
Penley, who will retire at the end of the season, led the Tigers to the ACC Championship two weeks ago in dramatic fashion, as the Tigers had a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over second-ranked Florida State in the match play championship.
The victory gave Penley a 10th ACC championship in his 38-year career. Penley is now tied for third for the most ACC titles among Clemson head coaches regardless of sport. Bob Pollock had 11 in men’s indoor track and Dr. I.M. Ibrahim had 11 in men’s soccer. Penley is tied with former Clemson men’s tennis coach Chuck Kriese with 10.
Clemson Athletics Black History: Jean Desdunes
Jean Desdunes was the first Clemson African-American men’s tennis player to be inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame, an honor he received in 2009. Desdunes played on great Clemson teams from 1980-83. All four reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and had a final top 10 ranking under coach Chuck Kriese.
As a freshman in 1980, Desdunes had a 27-match winning streak, still the second longest streak in Clemson history. He was an All-American as a junior and a senior, and in 1983 was named the National Senior Player of the Year by the ITA. Desdunes finished is career with 157 singles wins and 153 doubles victories, still the only player in school history with at least 150 wins in both categories.