HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne announced that
Carter Cheves has been extended as head coach of the men's golf program through the 2027-28 season.
"Carter has been a positive presence and steadying force for our men's golf program at James Madison," Bourne said. "He inherited the program amid the COVID pandemic with his first competitive season a shortened spring campaign in 2021 before then facing CAA ineligibility due to transition in 2022. As the program moved to the Sun Belt, the team had a respectable first season in 2022-23 and has already climbed significantly in Sun Belt rankings based upon Fall results this year. He is a positive role model leading our student-athletes not only on the golf course but in all aspects of their collegiate experience. We're excited for him to continue leading the young men in our golf program."
Cheves has been part of the JMU men's golf program for 10 years, first serving as an assistant coach from 2013-2018. After one year away from the program, he returned in 2019 to serve as associate head coach for one year before being named head coach in the summer of 2020.
"I want to thank Jeff Bourne, Geoff Polglase and JMU Athletics administration for the opportunity to continue leading the men's golf program at JMU. I am grateful to be doing what I love and helping our young men develop on and off the golf course. JMU is a special place, and I am proud to serve this university and our student-athletes. Go Dukes!"
In their first Sun Belt campaign in 2023, the Dukes earned the ninth seed in the championship before ultimately finishing eighth in the conference. Through Fall results of the 2023-24 campaign, the Dukes have risen all the way to fourth in the Sun Belt according to the Spikemark college golf rankings. The fall was highlighted by a win in the VCU Shootout. The spring season tees off in Arizona at the Loyola Intercollegiate Feb. 25-27.
Cheves served one year as head coach at Ohio for the 2018-19 season before the opportunity surfaced to return to James Madison. He also filled the head coaching role for three seasons at Western Carolina prior to his first JMU stint.
Cheves graduated from UNCW in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. Prior to UNCW, he played for two years at NC State.