Jason Payne, Assistant Coach

Jason Payne, t he former head coach at Mercer University, will serve as the assistant coach for the Georgia men’s golf team for the 2007-08 season.

“Jason will be able to step right in,” Georgia head coach Chris Haack said. “He’s a Georgia guy who is very familiar with our program. He’s done a great job as a coach, and we’re excited about having him join us.”

Payne spent the previous four seasons as Mercer’s head coach, helping the program reach new heights and improve its visibility on the national landscape.

During his tenure at Mercer, Payne helped the Bears to a program-best, fourth-place finish at the 2005 Atlantic Sun Championship. He also coached five Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars, 25 Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team honorees and one Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team selection. Under Payne’s guidance, Mercer won the 2005 Wofford Invitational while three Bears claimed individual titles.

Away from competition, Payne put Mercer on the map nationally by hosting the Linger Longer Invitational in Greensboro, Georgia which drew some of the nation’s best teams in 2006 and 2007 and now is recognized as one of the country’s top events. Mercer also hosted the Atlantic Sun Championship in April 2007 at The Golf Club of Sanctuary Cove in Waverly, the first time the university hosted the event since 1995. Mercer also will host the inaugural Brickyard Collegiate Golf Championship in October 2007 at The Brickyard at Riverside in Macon.

Payne spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia Southern before arriving at Mercer. While in Statesboro, Payne helped guide the Eagles to two Southern Conference titles and back-to-back trips to the NCAA Regionals in 2002 and 2003. He also coached one All-American, one Scholar All-American, one Southern Conference Player of the Year, two consecutive Southern Conference Freshman of the Year picks, five All-Southern Conference selections and one Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Year.

Payne earned a bachelor’s degree in Consumer Economics from Georgia in 2001 and a master’s degree in Sport Management from Georgia Southern in 2003.

“It’s good to be back in Athens,” Payne said. “I am looking forward to being involved with a program that has such a history of success. Working with Coach Haack and the rest of the Athletic Association will be a great privilege.”

Payne married the former Jency Sharp of Newnan on July 14, 2007.