Zack Byrd

The 2024-25 campaign is Zack Byrd’s third season as the head coach for Purdue Women's Golf and his first as Director of Golf. As the Boilermakers' Director of Golf, Byrd has oversight of both men's and women's golf programs, providing leadership support to the men’s golf coach. One of the top recruiters in the country, Byrd was named head coach of the Boilermakers in June 2022 following the retirement of 25-year head coach Devon Brouse.   In two seasons under Byrd’s guidance, Purdue has won three tournament titles. The Boilermakers won three tournaments over the previous six seasons before Byrd's arrival. Seventeen of the 50 lowest team rounds in program history have occurred under Byrd, including the school record 270 (-18) at the 2023 Boilermaker Classic as well as the second-best round, a 274 at the 2023 Schooner Fall Classic.   The Boilermakers had one of most successful seasons in recent memory during the 2023-24 campaign, producing two wins and four Top 3 finishes before ending the year with their best national ranking since 2019 (33rd). Winning the Boilermaker Classic and the Mary Fossum Invitational to start the season, Purdue won back-to-back tournaments for the first time since the 2012-13 season. Prior to the fall of 2023, the last time Purdue won its first two tournaments of the season was the start of the 2005-06 campaign. Purdue placed fourth at the Big Ten Championships with an even-par 864, the Boilermakers' best score in the league tournament since 2016, before competing in an NCAA Regional for the ninth straight season.   Purdue secured a berth to the NCAA Championships for the 19th time in program history, placing runner-up at the NCAA Las Vegas Regional for their best regional performance since 2013. The Boilermakers fired an 8-under 280 during the second round, setting a new program best for the lowest round in an NCAA Regional and matching the 2010 Boilermakers at the NCAA Championships for Purdue's best round in any NCAA tournament.   Byrd’s second season also featured some additions to the Purdue record book. The Boilermakers produced two of the lowest five team totals (54 holes) in school history, a program-best 837 at the Schooner Fall Classic and an 852 (fifth) at the season-opening Boilermaker Classic. In the Boilermaker Classic, the team fired a 270 (-18) to set a new best for lowest round. Individually, Ashley Kozlowski and Momo Sugiyama earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors. Kozlowski tied a school record with six rounds in the 60s throughout the season, while Sugiyama posted the third-lowest stroke average in program history (72.45). In his first season in West Lafayette, the Boilermakers earned their eighth straight NCAA Regional berth and produced four Top 5 finishes throughout the 2022-23 campaign. Byrd's first spring in charge was highlighted by leading Purdue to the team title at the Tulane Classic, the first tournament victory since 2018. Byrd also showcased his strength in recruiting. Sugiyama was the first commitment of the Byrd era, providing an immediate impact as Purdue's best golfer throughout the 2022-23 campaign. The Hawaii transfer recorded six rounds in the 60s to tie a single-season school record, while earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors at the end of the season.   Before arriving at Purdue, Byrd spent four seasons at Ole Miss, serving as assistant coach before being elevated to associate head coach following the team’s 2021 national title. The Rebels captured the 2021 NCAA National Championship, the first ever by a women’s team in school history.   A well-known recruiter internationally, Byrd brought some of Europe’s best players to Ole Miss to turn the Rebels into a national powerhouse. Spending a decade as a professional golfer himself allowed Byrd to connect with players looking to reach the highest level of the sport. Byrd joined Ole Miss in the spring of 2019, making an immediate impact with the Rebels. Ole Miss progressed throughout the campaign, playing its best golf at the right time. Byrd and the Rebels captured the SEC Championship, the first conference title in program history. Throughout the championship, Byrd walked alongside Macy Somoskey, who played an astounding 63 holes during the match play portion of the tournament, resulting in three match-deciding victories. Ole Miss rode the momentum into the NCAA Norman Regional, playing well enough to advance to the NCAA Championships. The Rebels placed 14th on the national stage, a then-program best, ending a successful first season for Byrd in Oxford. Building off year one, Byrd’s second season at Ole Miss featured four team tournament titles, another school record for a single season. He helped guide the Rebels to wins at the Golfweek Conference Challenge, Jim West Challenge, Battle at the Beach and the Moon Golf Invitational. The Jim West Challenge included a 19-under first round, the lowest team round in program history. Ole Miss led the conference in scoring average (284.22, 4-under par), and three Rebels earned All-SEC honors. Ole Miss finished the year with its best ranking in all major polls, at No. 11 in the WGCA Coaches Poll, No. 12 in Golfstat’s team rankings and No. 13 on Golfweek’s national rankings.   Byrd and the Rebels reached the mountaintop in 2021, one year after the 2020 championship season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fall, Ole Miss won the East Lake Cup by defeating Texas and South Carolina to showcase the Rebels’ strength in match play. It was a preview of what was to come in the spring when the Rebels reached the NCAA Championships and qualified for match play that determines the national champion. Ole Miss took down Texas once again before rallying from behind to beat Arizona to earn a spot in the championship match. In the finals, the Rebels cruised past Oklahoma State 4-1 to win the first women’s national title in Ole Miss history.   Byrd coached Julia Johnson and Kennedy Swann, who both earned WGCA All-America honors at the end of the championship campaign. Johnson collected first team accolades, while Swann received honorable mention recognition.   Byrd coached All-American Chiara Taburlini at the 2022 NCAA Championships. He walked alongside Tamburlini for all 72 holes of the national championship, helping her manage the difficult Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor Course. Tamburlini not only made the cut, but she secured a top-10 finish by placing eighth. Prior to venturing south to Mississippi, Byrd served as an assistant coach at Colorado State. He helped the Rams post their best fall three-round average (292.1) since 2011. Colorado State had four top-10 individual finishes in their four fall tournaments in 2018. The Rams won the Ron Moore Women's Intercollegiate with a four-under 860, the second lowest three-round score in program history.    Before transitioning to coaching, Byrd spent 10 years as a professional golfer. Ending his playing career on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour, he finished 44th on the money list while making the cut at the 2018 BMW SA Open. Byrd gained full status for the 2018 campaign after finishing runner-up for Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year in 2017. That season, he posted a 70.98 stroke average with seven top-20 finishes and three top-10s. A second-place finish at the Investec Royal Swazi Open, that included a 63 in the final round, helped Byrd break into the Top-700 of the world rankings.   Byrd qualified for the Canadian PGA Tour in 2015 and also competed on the PGA's China and Latin America tours. He held conditional status with the Web.com Tour in 2014, as well as the Nationwide Tour in 2012 and Web.com Tour in 2013 after again making the final stage of Q School. Byrd began his pro career with numerous wins and Top 10 finishes on mini tour circuits in the southeast United States and nationwide in PGA sectional events. In 2011, he qualified and competed in the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club, while also making the final stage of the PGA Tour's Q School.   Byrd is a 2009 graduate of Coastal Carolina University where he was a five-year member of the men's golf team. As a freshman, he won the Big South Conference individual championship and was named Big South Freshman of the Year. During his time at Coastal, he helped lead the Chanticleers to three NCAA Championship berths alongside 2016 U.S. Open Champion Dustin Johnson. Byrd posted his best season of collegiate golf as a senior, collecting Third Team All-America honors by PING and Golfweek. That same year, he was the Big South Player of the Year and Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and he broke the school record for lowest round with a 9-under 63. Byrd was also a two-time GCAA All-America Scholar in his junior and senior seasons. In 2015, he was inducted in the Coastal Carolina Hall of Fame.   Byrd and his wife Alison have two daughters, Payton and Avery.