NORMAN, Okla. – Former Friends University men's golf head coach Dustin Galyon has been selected as the 2026 NAIA Golf Pride Grips Central Region Coach of the Year, announced today (June 9) by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).

Galyon guided the Falcons to their fourth straight KCAC Championship this past season and a runner-up finish at the NAIA National Championship, representing the best national result in Friends history.

A four-time KCAC Coach of the Year, Galyon has coached the conference individual champion all five years of his tenure (Trenton Sutherland, Gerado Alemany, Caleb Knight, Tomas Vazquez, Trinton Nobles), with Nobles being selected as the KCAC Men's Golf Player of the Year for the past three seasons.

Galyon recently stepped down from the position after five years at the helm, with former Wichita State women's golf head coach Tom McCurdy being announced as the program's new head coach.  

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For over seven decades, we've been the global leader in golf grip innovation and technology, from the invention of the slip-on grip to groundbreaking advancements in cord with our new Brushed Cotton Technology (BCT®) to the introduction of the hybrid category of grips. Today, Golf Pride® has laid claim to more major wins than any other grip company. More than 80% of Tour professionals choose to play our grips and not one is paid to do so. And in this age of multi-million dollar endorsement deals, that's the strongest endorsement of all. So, whether you're a Tour pro playing a major, a rising amateur, or an everyday golfer, you can rest assured knowing you're playing the #1 Grip in Golf. To learn more about Golf Pride®, go to golfpride.com.