David Synan took the reins of the UNC Pembroke golf program in June 2005 and will serve his 15th year as the skipper of the women's program in 2020-21. He joined the Braves after serving as assistant coach for two seasons at his alma mater, High Point University, and also served as the head coach of UNCP's men's golf program for 10 seasons (2006-15).
Synan is no stranger to Pembroke having graduated from nearby Scotland High School in Laurinburg. After a stellar prep career with the Fighting Scots, he played at High Point where he was a key contributor to the Panthers for three seasons after transferring from Georgia Southern. During those three seasons, Synan served as team captain and took home All-Big South accolades. He was a three-time Millis Scholar-Athlete, as well as being named to the Big South Conference Presidential Honor Roll and High Point’s Dean’s List. Synan was at the forefront of the starting of the women’s golf program in the fall of 2006 and, since then, both the men’s and women’s golf teams have made numerous appearances in the national rankings.
The 2010 Durham Amateur Open Champion (-3, 69-70) and 2011 Scotland County Amateur Champion (E, 62-77-77) was named UNCP Coach of the Year during the 2010-11 athletic year after leading both the men’s and women’s squads to the NCAA Regional tournament. He has also earned two PBC Women’s Golf Coach of the Year awards since the sport was added as a conference championship sport prior to the 2009-10 athletic season.
Ten men's golfers earned all-Peach Belt Conference laurels under Synan's tutelage, with two of those student-athletes, Jordan Walor and Jonathan McCurry, combining to earn five all-American honors. The women's team has accounted for 23 all-conference nods, while former standout Meghan Moore earned all-American honors following the 2011-12 and 2012-13 campaigns - the first women's all-American in the history of the program. Synan's teams have combined for for over 30 all-American scholar honors, while former standout Katja Dammann was awarded Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year distinction following a breakout campaign in 2010-11. Under Synan's watch, the program has also brought home four Freshman of the Year honors as well as three Player of the Year accolades.Â
Over the past 14 seasons, Synan's teams have combined to bring home 35 team tournament championships, including a trio of PBC Tournament titles (Women: 2011, 2014; Men: 2012). The women's program has recorded 23 tournament championships since 2006, including the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship in 2011 and 2014. The men's program tallied 12 team tournament titles under Synan's watch, including the 2012 PBC Championship. Under his tutelage, the golf programs also boast 30 individual tournament titles over that same stretch, including a trio of PBC Championships (Jordan Walor in 2010, Dammann in 2011, Moore in 2013).
Synan's teams have also seen success in the classroom. During the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, the women's program was recognized as one of the Top 25 women's team for GPA for the year.Â
Synan earned his Bachelor of Science degree in sport management from High Point in 2003 and completed his master's degree in sport studies in 2005. In addition to his coaching duties, Synan serves as a lecturer in UNCP’s Health, Physical Education, and Recreation department.
He and Jamie, his wife of 14 years, reside in Aberdeen. The couple has two children, Summer and Jack.
Updated: July 2020
