Payne Denman Named Assistant Golf Coach at Tennessee

August 5, 2024
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Payne Denman is set to join Tennessee’s men’s golf coaching staff as an assistant coach, head coach Brennan Webb announced Sunday.

Denman joins Webb and fellow assistant coach Bo Andrews, who are each entering their seventh season on Rocky Top in 2024-25.

“We are excited to add Payne to our staff,” said Webb. “As a world class amateur player who still competes at the elite levels of amateur golf, Payne brings a unique perspective to our program that will be a tremendous resource for our players.

“As well, Payne’s familiarity with our players and staff will allow him to fit seamlessly into our program and allow him to hit the ground running.”

Denman spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at MTSU. During the 2023-24 season, Denman helped guide Middle Tennessee to a team win at the Daniel Island Intercollegiate and he aided in the development of his players individually and ultimately saw five Blue Raiders earn All-CUSA awards.

Additionally, MTSU golfer Owen Stamper was selected to the 2024 West Lafayette Regional as an individual.

In the 2022-23 season, Denman helped four players earn All-CUSA honors as Stamper earned Conference USA Player of the Year. In year one as an assistant coach with the Blue Raiders, he also helped lead them to a second-place stroke play finish at the 2023 Conference USA Championships and an NCAA Regional berth.

On top of his coaching endeavors, Denman currently holds amateur status as a player.

The Riverwatch, Tennessee, (DeKalb County) native won the 2024 Tennessee State Amateur Championship at Tennessee National Golf Club after firing an 18-under total. Denman etched his name in Tennessee Golf Association history and became the first Tennessee State Amateur winner to receive exemption into the U.S. Amateur for his state championship victory.

Denman also made a quarterfinal run at the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball with partner Brett Patterson and most recently finished runner-up in the Tennessee State Amateur Four-Ball while playing alongside Whit Turnbow.

Denman played collegiately for MTSU from 2012-15 after transferring from Florida, making his mark on the program’s record book. He finished with 26 rounds of par or better, tied for 15th in the career rankings.

August 5, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Lifting up schools in prayer!

A community gathering was held at the high school Sunday to offer up prayers for all those affiliated with the school system in what has become an annual observance prior to the start of school.

This year’s prayer event, sponsored by the DeKalb County Ministerial Association, included a time of prayer led by six local ministers for administration and leadership, faculty and staff, students, parents/guardians, and extracurricular activities/athletics. After the main event, smaller groups met at each of the public schools in DeKalb County to pray specifically for that school.

Isaac Gray, Minister of the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church opened with prayer followed by other prayers from ministers Graden Kirksey of the Refuge Church, Abram Edwards of Calvary Baptist Church, Chris Moore of the Smithville Church of God, Chad Ramsey of the Smithville First Baptist Church, and Jeremy Poole of the Smithville First Assembly of God.

August 4, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Volleyball team is about to embark on its inaugural season under coach Danielle Horton.

The 13 member Tigerette team competed in a Play Day at Stone Memorial in Crossville Saturday and a scrimmage is scheduled at White County in Sparta on August 12 in preparation for the season opener at home on August 19 at Watertown.

Coach Horton said aside from some pre-season jitters, the team is ready to get started.

“We have a total of 13 players including three seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and four freshmen. Four members of the team have played before, so they have some experience” said Coach Horton.

“It’s been a learning process for everybody buts it’s been fun. The girls are enjoying it. Our team is excited and nervous, but they have been working really hard over the summer to get ready”.

The Tigerette’s volleyball district schedule includes Watertown, Upperman, Stone Memorial, Livingston Academy, and Cumberland County.

“They are all pretty competitive,” said Coach Horton. “I can’t say there is one specific team to beat over another since we are a new program but Stone Memorial, Upperman, and Livingston the past few years have all been very competitive with state tournament appearances. They have really taken time to build their programs. Overall, I believe it’s going to be a very competitive district and there’s really not any team that couldn’t go to state”.

Coach Horton invites fans to come out and watch the Tigerettes play this season. Their home games will be in the DCHS gym.

“It is a pretty fast paced game so I think a lot of people will enjoy it especially with it being a new sport here. Volleyball has become a lot more popular than in the past especially in college and with the Olympics,” she said.

Coach Horton has given up her head coaching duties for the Tigerette fastpitch softball team to devote more time to the volleyball program and to her family. However, she will remain as an assistant softball coach to Ethan Duke, who has stepped up from his previous assistant role to head coach of the Tigerette softball program.

“I will still be assistant softball coach for the year,” said Coach Horton. “Coach Duke is taking over the head coach position. As head coach of the volleyball program, I want to focus my time on building it. I don’t want it to be just another sport. I want it to be a championship program in the future and that will take a lot of time,” she said.

“My family also comes first. I have two little girls who are my priority and a I think with me head coaching two sports that would take a lot away from them so to make sure I’m able to balance my work and home life, it was just the right decision for me to do this but still stay connected to softball,” added Coach Horton.

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