Sam Dunning serves as Special Assistant to the AD for Special Projects after retiring as Delta State's head golf coach following the 2015 season, ending a highly successful 25-year run.
In his final season, Dunning guided the Statesmen to a school record four tournament wins and saw Reed Lindsey and Chad Cupples earn All-GSC honors. The Statesmen finished third in the GSC Men's Golf Championships while Lindsey received an at-large berth into the NCAA Divsion II South/Southeast Regional in Dade City, Florida.
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. Dunning also led the Statesmen to the 2006 Gulf South Conference Championship.
He has led the Statesmen twice to the national championships. The first time was during the 2004-2005 season when it was held in Savannah, Georgia. The second time was the 2013-2014 season when the championship was held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was named GSC Coah of the Year in 2005. Dunning has coached 13 NCAA Academic All-Americans and six NCAA DII All-Americans.
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. Dunning was also enshrined into the Gulf States PGA Hall of Fame in 2008.
The Canton, Miss., native received a bachelor’s degree in Business from Mississippi State University in 1974. The three-year letter winner for the Bulldog golf team from 1972-1974 was recognized at MSU's outstanding golfer in 1974.
Dunning is married to the former Mary Louise Ferri. He has one daughter, Mrs. Heather Short. The Dunning’s have three grandchildren, Emma Grace (7), Matthew (5) and Anderson (2).
