Easton Key, who was named to lead the Delta State Men's Golf Program on Thursday, June 29, 2017, enters his fifth season at the helm of the Statesman golf program.
The 2019-20 Statesmen were off to a roaring start, winning two tournaments while capturing a second place, a seventh-place and two third-place finishes before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Zach Zediker was the only Division II player to be selected to play for the United States Arnold Palmer Cup team and also earned First-Team PING-All-Region and All-American honors. Zediker won four and finished second in two tournaments and was gunning for his third straight GSC Individual title. Zach Smith was also named First-Team PING All-South Region and was named Honorable Mention All-American.
In his first two seasons at the helm, the Statesmen have posted a runner-up finished at the 2017-18 Gulf South Conference Conference Men's Championship and went on to finish 11th at the NCAA Division II Golf Championship. Key has coached four All-GSC selections, including two-time GSC Men's Golf Low Medalist and All-American Zach Zediker. All-GSC performers include Zediker, Georgia Kawell (2017-18) and Zach Smith (2018-19). Key's teams have produced in the classroom as well, garnering 13 Academic Honor members (3.0 GPA or higher) and one Academic All-GSC selection.
Key joins the Delta State family from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he spent the last year as an assistant on the men’s and women’s teams. While at UNO, Key helped direct the program’s operations in a manner of ways, including budgeting, recruiting, travel and practice planning, equipment acquisition and maintenance, and on-course coaching.
Before joining the staff at UNO, he spent three seasons as a graduate assistant and assistant at his alma mater Arkansas State University. During the 2015-16 campaign, which included a stretch as interim head coach, Key helped lead the Red Wolves to a school-record six tournament victories, while improving their Golfstat national ranking from 199 to 80.
Key also helped implement and plan ASU’s practice drills, assisted with recruiting efforts, managed travel, and served as the equipment director.
The Meridian, Miss., native was a Cleveland/Srixon All-American Scholar while a member of the Arkansas State golf team from 2012-13 through 2013-14. While at ASU, Key earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in sports administration, all while maintaining academic honors in the classroom.
On the course, Key claimed the tournament championship at the 2013 Bill Ross Intercollegiate Classic, hosted by the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He also led the Red Wolves in scoring average in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, while closing his collegiate career with 16 top-10 finishes.
During his time in Jonesboro, Key was a member of Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society, the ASU Letterman’s Club, Sport Management Club, and served as a worship leader for Central Baptist-Journey Campus. Â
Key, who transferred to Arkansas State from Meridian Community College, was also a National Junior College Academic All-American and a member of Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society.
He is the son of Ronnie and Leigh Ann Key, and he has one brother, Casey. His father is the head golf coach at Meridian Community College.        Â
