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Sam Puryear begins his third season as Assistant Coach for the Stanford men's golf program. Last season, Puryear helped guide the team to its first NCAA Championship in more than a decade, as the Cardinal captured the national title with a 12-stroke victory in Williamsburg, Va.
"Sam Puryear brings a wealth of unique personal experience to the Stanford men's program," said Head Coach Conrad Ray. "Sam loves to work with kids, and his passion for doing things the right way is infectious. The fact that Sam's position is the first ever full-time assistant coach dedicated solely to the men's golf team speaks to his qualifications and is exciting for all of us. Sam will help us achieve the high goals we have set for the entire program."
Before joining Stanford, Puryear was Executive Director of East Lake Junior Golf Academy in Atlanta, Ga., where he managed the development of golf instruction and curriculum for an academy serving more than 1,000 youth. While at the academy, he cultivated relationships with the PGA Tour, LPGA, and The Tour Championship, creating unique one-on-one play for Pro-Am events with academy youth and select Top 30 money winners, including Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, and Phil Mickelson. Puryear created unprecedented opportunities for junior golfers to serve as interns with Turner Sports to work at the 2005 British Open at St. Andrews, Scotland. He also cultivated a relationship with Fortune magazine and created an internship for a female junior golfer.
Puryear has a proven track record for fundraising, campaigning, and program support. He recruited Chick-Fil-A as a $250K corporate partner for East Lake Golf Club. He raised thousands of dollars annually as District Executive for Boy Scouts of America. He developed national relationships, which led to donated equipment, airline tickets, clothing, and supplies.
He has extensive experience in developing boards and working with key leaders in sports, banking and finance, entertainment, the legal sector, the nonprofit arena, and faith-based organizations. These relationships have led to the recruitment of top-level volunteers and industry professionals. He also has worked closely with PGA teaching professionals and executives from the USGA, the PGA of America, the PGA Tour, and The First Tee.
Puryear's accolades include being recognized by several media outlets as a prominent spokesperson discussing the future of minorities in golf. He has served on a golf panel on CNN. Puryear's work with student-athletes also has been featured on ESPN, Inside the PGA TOUR, and the Disney Channel. His efforts contributed to a larger community revitalization in metropolitan Atlanta that was prominently featured in Fortune magazine, New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Puryear currently is featured with two former golf students on the Disney Channel in a segment promoting kids following their dreams.
In 2007, the mayor of Winston-Salem, N.C., Puryear's native city, proclaimed June 11 "Samuel G. Puryear Jr. Day" because of his contribution to the game of golf and the local community.