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Shannon Lipham has been named Assistant Director of Athletics and Head Golf Coach at LaGrange College, according to a press release from the college. He will begin his responsibilities on Aug. 9.

A member of the Golf Coaches Association of America, Lipham returns to LC for his third stint in Red and Black. He served as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball program during the 2009-10 season and golf team in 2002-03. That season, the Panther golf team was named United States Collegiate Athletic Association national champions.

“I want to thank Dr. Susanna Baxter and Director of Athletics and Recreation Terlynn Olds for this fantastic opportunity,” Lipham said. “I am so excited to get started at LaGrange College. I do have huge shoes to fill in being the guy who takes over for Head Coach Lee Richter. He built such a great golf program at LC. Our goal is to continue his success and build on the history of winning in the classroom and on the golf course.”

Lipham arrives from Point University where he served as the director of golf since January. Prior to that, he worked as an assistant coach for the Skyhawks and general manager at Point University Golf Club in Lanett, Alabama, from 2018–20.

The 2020-21 season was a special one for Point, as the team finished the year ranked first in the country in the Golfstat NAIA team rankings, NAIA Coaches poll and NAIA Bushnell Golfweek Coaches poll. The Skyhawks earned a fourth-place finish at the NAIA national championship and won their fourth consecutive Appalachian Athletic Conference championship. Point shattered school records in total wins (8) and stroke average (286), with four All-Americans on the roster.

From 2011–18, Lipham was employed as the director of instruction at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. During the 2004-05 season, he was the head men’s and women’s golf coach at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia. One year earlier, he served as the assistant coach for the men’s and women’s golf teams at Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia. During his time at Berry, the Vikings placed ninth at the 2003 NAIA national championship.

Lipham has earned many awards during his career, including being a finalist for the 2021 GCAA Dave Williams National Coach of the Year award and the winner of the 2020-21 Appalachian Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Coach of the Year honor.

Lipham played NCAA Division I golf at Jacksonville (Alabama) State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2000. During his playing days, Lipham was recognized as four-year letter winner, named to three All-Tournament squads and joined his team in winning three tournaments.

Lipham kicked off his coaching career in 2003, serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater Troup County High School. The LaGrange native is married to Jennifer Lipham.

“Growing up in this community, it means so much to me to be able to come back and be a part of it again,” Lipham said. “Great things are on the horizon for LaGrange College, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.”