Sean Haight begins his first season as Gannon's head men’s golf coach in 2012-13. Haight replaces Ryan Paris who resigned at the conclusion of the 2011-12 academic year.
A 32-year golf industry veteran, Haight brings decades of experience within the golf industry as well as over 20 years of business experience to the Gannon golf program. His golf experience includes being a professional tour caddie alongside his brother Dan as well as being a caddie at several prestigious private golf clubs for the last 32 years. Haight has caddied for professionals such as Bob Friend, Jim McGovern, Scott Weatherly, Keoke Cotner and Ramone Bescansa. His experience as a caddy has allowed Haight the opportunity to study in person some of the world’s greatest golfers such as Gary Player, Fred Couples, Jason Dufner, Bubba Watson and others. He has also worked during the last 10 years in various capacities at Eagle Point Golf Club which is one of the top rated private clubs in North Carolina. Other notable courses he has caddied at include The Cliff’s Golf Club (Western North Carolina), Thornblade (Greer, S.C.), Sage Valley (Graniteville, S.C.) and the Kahkwa Club (Erie, Pa.).
“I am proud and excited to be the head men’s golf coach at Gannon,” said Haight upon his hiring. “It’s an honor to walk in the footsteps of former golf coaches like Bud Elwell and to work alongside great coaches such as my former wrestling coach Don Henry throughout the Gannon athletics department. There is a great golf history here at Gannon. We will continue that strong tradition for years to come.”
The Erie, Pa., native is no stranger to Gannon athletics. The former Gannon student-athlete became the first wrestling All-American in school history at 126 pounds during the 1988 NCAA Division II National Championships. He also earned Academic All-America honors that same season.
“Sean brings a variety of attributes to our golf program,” said Gannon Director of Athletics Mark Richard upon Haight's hiring. “As a former Academic All-American, he understands the importance of academics at Gannon. In addition to understanding the aspects of being an individual in a team sport, his one-on-one experience with many professional golfers will provide our student-athletes with the expertise to reach their competitive goals.”
Haight’s past golf experience includes working in pro shops and as an Assistant General Manager with the American Golf Corporation (AGC) in Charlotte, North Carolina. AGC was the world’s largest golf course management company at the time. His responsibilities there included marketing, membership sales, budgeting, forecasting, internet database marketing and operations. In addition, he served as an Assistant Golf Professional at Rolling Hills Country Club in Monroe, North Carolina.
A McDowell (Pa.) High School graduate and one of eight siblings, Haight fulfilled a golfer’s dream with a hole-in-one during high school. His professional resume includes experience as an industrial sales and marketing representative for machine tool manufacturers, a Regional Account Representative and Resource Coordinator at General Electric ED&C and a high school teacher of small business entrepreneurship in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools’ Workforce Development Department.
Golf has always been part of the Haight family. In addition to caddying alongside his older brother Dan during his career, his youngest brother Geoff is the Director of Outside Operations at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, North Carolina. His younger brother Dave was the Head Golf Professional at Westport Golf Course in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Haight graduated from Gannon in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He has one daughter, Alyssa, who earned her undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2010.
