Sam Dunning
Head Golf Coach

Sam Dunning is now in his 17th season at Delta State as DSU’s men’s golf coach.

Dunning, an avid golfer and member of the Professional Golf Association, is widely known across the state of Mississippi for his knowledge of the sport. He wears many hats in the Cleveland, Miss., area as head golf pro and superintendent at Cleveland Country Club.

In Golf Digest’s annual “College Golf Guide” the Statesmen placed tenth in all of NCAA Division II, giving national recognition of Coach Dunning’s efforts here in the Delta. DSU was the highest ranking Division II institution in player development and player improvement.

At DSU, he has had the pleasure of coaching four individual GSC Champions, six All-Americans and many All-GSC golfers. The past six seasons, he has directed the Statesmen to regional play. Over the past four years the Statesmen have claimed 17 team titles, including the 2005-2006 GSC Championship. This was the first team championship for a Delta State sqad.

Dunning served as President of the Mississippi Chapter of Professional Golfers Association from 1985-1986. He was also the Gulf States Section President of the year from 1990-1992. In 1986, he was awarded PGA Mississippi Professional of the Year, while earning Gulf States Section Professional of the Year laurels in 1987 and 1992.

The Canton, Miss., native received a bachelor’s degree in Business from Mississippi State University in 1974. A three-year letterman on the MSU golf team from 1972-1974, he was awarded MSU outstanding golfer in 1974.

Dunning is married to the former Mary Louise Ferri. He has one daughter, Mrs. Heather Short. The Dunning’s have two grandchildren, Emma Grace and Matthew.