Five-time Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Men's Golf Coach of the Year Phil Sweeney returns for his 11th season at the helm of Davenport. Over the last nine years, Sweeney has led the men's golf team to six WHAC regular season championships and two tournament titles. In addition to his WHAC coaching accolades, Sweeney was tabbed NAIA Regional Coach of the Year in 2007.
In addition coach men's golf, Sweeney is also at the helm of the school's DI hockey team.
The 2015-16 men's golf team finished second by a narrow margin in the WHAC standings during the fall season and also were second in the conference spring invitational played at Lenawee Country Club. Senior Jorge Benitez was named an All-American and a finalist for the Jack Nicklaus NAIA Player of the Year.
Over the past nine seasons, Sweeney has coached 26 first-team All-WHAC performers with three claiming medalist honors for the regular season (Nick Boone, Zac Bested and Adrian Balbas) and one for the tournament (Jorge Benitez twice).
Sweeney and the team have been to two NAIA National Championships since 2012-13. Jorge Benitez and Adrian Balbas have also clinched individual spots to the national championship.
The team had a great performance in the regular season in 2013-14 as they claimed three of the five WHAC Jamborees and finished second in the other two but ended up winning the title by 45 shots over UNOH.
The 2012-13 squad returned to the national tournament for the first time in three years and posted a 23rd place finish at Creekside Golf Club in Salem, Ore. The Panthers won their second consecutive WHAC title and claimed the school's first ever WHAC Tournament championship at home.
In 2011-12, Sweeney led the men's golf team to first place finished in 3 of the 4 WHAC Jamboree as well as top-5 finishes in the AC Eddy Invitational, the Furniture City Classic, and the Calvin Knight Invitational. The lone qualifier for the National Tournament was freshman Adrian Balbas who missed the 54-hole cut.
From 2006-2008, Phil has led the team to wins in 19 of the 21 WHAC jamborees including setting the conference scoring record of 280 in 2008. The team has also claimed many tournament titles including: 2008 Lindenwood Fall Invitational 2008 Motor City Invitational (Wayne State) 2007 Kyle Ryman Invite (Tiffin) Back-to-Back-to-Back Furniture City Classic Championships (06, 07, 08)
The 2007-2008 Panthers team reached new heights as they appeared in their first ever NAIA National Championships in Plymouth, IN and the 08-09 team followed with an 11th place finish at the TPC of Deere Run.
