Ryan Jamison has spent the last five years working as a PGA Tour caddie. Now he’s making a return to his alma mater, DePaul, as the head coach of the men’s golf team.
“I wanted to get back to DePaul, and I have accumulated knowledge over the past 20 years that I feel can help grow the program,” he said, noting that this felt like the right time to return to the team.
Jamison, originally from Garland, Texas, completed both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at DePaul. He earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce in 2005 and an MBA in sports management in 2013.
Jamison said DePaul’s inclusive culture and diverse student population have impacted his professional life, encouraging him to be more open-minded and consider new ways of doing things.
Jamison is an experienced coach, having previously held various assistant and head coaching positions at several different universities, including DePaul, where he served as an assistant coach for two seasons from 2010 to 12. He was also an assistant coach at Stanford University, and head coach at Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University.
During his time as head coach at Nova Southeastern, he was named the 2015 Division II Dave Williams National Coach of the Year.
As a PGA caddie, he also worked with professional golfers such as Akshay Bhatia and Justin Suh, assisting them on the course and offering strategic advice.
Ryan Jamison plays golf in 2003. Jamison played golf for DePaul as an undergraduate. (Provided by DePaul Athletics)
Jamison said that working with the best of the best and being able to witness their professionalism and work ethic was inspiring and has strengthened his abilities as a coach.
“It has absolutely shaped my coaching style. I look at golf differently. I look at it from a more strategic point of view,” Jamison said.
Dominic Lucceshi, a member of DePaul’s men’s golf team, said he was excited to hear Jamison would be taking over the team this year.
“He has a lot of coaching experience and experience working with some of the best that I think can really help grow the team,” said Lucceshi, a sophomore finance major. “He really wants us to succeed.”
Hank Schaefer, a former player who graduated with a master’s degree in June, agreed.
“We recruited some very young talent last season, and now with Jamison they will have very good guidance,” Schaefer continued. “Coming from a major program like FAU, I think he can help grow DePaul’s team to one of the top teams in the Big East conference.”
Jamison said his main priorities for the team include establishing values and building structure. He also wants to listen to the student-athletes and allow them to voice their opinions.
“An ultimate vision would be for us to win a conference championship,” he said. ”But I also know that I have to focus on the here and now.”
“Ultimately, my goal is to achieve great growth with the great group of guys that we have.”
Lucceshi, who is competing for his second year on the team, said he has already noticed more focus on improving skills under Jamison’s leadership. “I would say the atmosphere is more serious,” he said.
Lucceshi said that knowing all that Jamison has accomplished throughout his career also motivates him to work hard and perform well.
Ultimately, Jamison says his job at DePaul “is about more than just golf.”
“It is about being better people, and that starts with me,” he said.
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