Cameron Athletics
Kenton Means, Sports Information Director
LAWTON – For the first time in 44 years the Cameron Athletics Department has hired a new men’s golf coach in Abilene, Texas native David Johnson.
Johnson, who will be replacing long-time CU head coach Jerrry Hrnciar, comes to Cameron with over 30 years of collegiate coaching experience. He was most recently teaching and coaching at Chisum High School. Prior to that, Johnson spent 11 years as the men’s golf coach at Paris Junior College, including a year as the school’s Athletic Director.
“I have known Coach Hrnciar for a long time and respect him and the program he has built,” said Johnson of replacing Hrnciar. “I am grateful for the opportunity to be here. My goal is to create interest and enthusiasm in our program and recruit student athletes who will represent Cameron University in a positive way.”
The task of taking over for Coach Hrnciar is a big one, but CU athletic director Jim Jackson thinks Johnson’s experience will transition into success for the Aggies in the coming years.
“Cameron’s men’s golf program is so fortunate to have had Coach Hrnciar leading it for the past 43 years,” said Jackson. “That’s an amazing run, and our program will continue to thrive with the hiring of Coach Johnson and I welcome him into our Aggie family. David brings a vast amount of success to the university and I feel fortunate to have him lead the men’s golf program into the future.”
Cameron returns a strong core of golfers in two-time Lone Star Conference Academic Player of the Year Dario Gabriel, first team All-LSC selection Will Lovelace, and Niels Sorensen. They along with returners Devin Whipple, Ben Pruitt, and Noah Hasse will battle with new players Mason LeGrange, Suvansh Arora, and Caden McAnally will make up the 2018-19 squad.
“I am excited about the returning players and the success they had last year. There are players on the team who will step up and fill the role of the players who graduated. Junior college and university transfers will contribute to the depth of the team. As a college coach, I am not just looking for the best golfer. I am looking for young men with great character who want to complete their college education and play competitive golf. Success, of course, is winning but also helping students succeed on the golf course, in the classroom, and in life.”
While Johnson will take over the duties of head men’s golf coach at Cameron, Hrnciar will remain on staff as the department’s Director of Golf with plans to officially retire next year.
Here is more on Johnson’s coaching career:
While at PJC, Johnson collected many accolades, including five NJCAA National Tournament Appearance, two NJCAA Region XIV Championships, five NJCAA Region XIV runner-up finishes, five NJCAA All-Americans, three Regional XIV Medalists, 17 NJCAA XIV All-Region Players, and 15 All-Region XIV Academic team members. He also served as the Secretary for the NJCAA Golf Coaches Association in 2015-16 and was a voting member of the Golf Week Magazine NJCAA Poll and the NJCAA National Poll.
Prior to his tenure in Paris, Texas, Johnson spent multiple seasons as a football coach, serving in multiple coaching roles with stops at Navarro College, Hardin-Simmons, Cisco Junior College, and Howard Payne.
Johnson earned his Bachelors of Science from Howard Payne in 1992 and his Master’s in Education in 1994 at Tarleton State. He and his wife, Amy, have two children, Bethany and Kacey.