Florida Southern Mourns Passing of GCAA Hall of Fame Golf Coach, Charley Matlock

From Florida Southern College Athletics:

The Florida Southern College community is saddened by the loss of Hall of Fame golf coach Charley Matlock, who passed away Saturday, July 9 after a long illness. He was 86 years old.

Matlock came to Florida Southern in 1962 as an instructor in the college's physical education department and was a long-time director of the college's intramural program. Some ten years after joining FSC, he was named coach of the men's golf team and led the Moccasins until his retirement in 1995.

Florida Southern won seven NCAA Division II national championships under Matlock in 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, and 1995 and also finished second nationally four times. His squads finished in the top five at the national tournament in 17 of his last 18 seasons as coach. Matlock was named the National Coach of the Year in 1990 by the Golf Coaches Association of America and three of his Moccasins won NCAA individual national champions in Tom Gleeton (1978), Tom Patri (1981) and Lee Janzen (1986).

While he retired from coaching golf in 1995, Matlock did not retire from golf, going on to write over 100 golf course reviews for Golfweek magazine.

Matlock was a member of five Halls of Fame – Golf Coaches Association of America (1991), Sunshine State Conference (1992); East Tennessee Athletics (2000); Florida Southern Athletics (2002); and Polk County Sports (2003).

A graduate of East Tennessee State, Matlock was a three-sport athlete - football, tennis, and basketball - from 1949 to 1953 and was among the nation's leader in punting during his junior and senior seasons. He also earned a degree from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Margaret (Peggy) Dulaney Matlock. He is survived by his son, Mark Matlock, and two grandchildren, Elliot and Griffin.

Memorials may be made to the Florida Southern College Men's Golf Team, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland, Florida 33801.

A memorial service will be held Friday, August 5, at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Lakeland.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.heathfuneralchapel.com.