Dr. Matthew Jenkins officially was named Head Coach of the High Point Club men's and women's golf teams on October 23, 2025, bringing a wealth of competitive experience and unique expertise to the two programs.

A current competitor on the VGA Senior Tour, Jenkins played two seasons at Columbus State Community College (1995-96), where the Cougars captured OJCAA Conference and NJCAA Region XII Division III titles both years, advancing to the NJCAA National Tournament each season. He remained with the program as assistant coach under Jeff Parker from 1997-99, contributing to an impressive 16 consecutive championship run that included multiple national titles.

As a professor, Dr. Jenkins brings over three decades of advertising experience to the Strategic Communication Department at High Point University's Nido R. Qubein School of Communication. Jenkins holds a Ph.D. from Liberty University, an MA in Communication from Johns Hopkins University, and a BS in Communication with a minor in Marketing from Old Dominion University.

He recently went one-on-one about serving as the golf coach for the High Point University Intercollegiate Club Sports team. The following were his responses: 

Hometown:
I grew up in Charleston, West Virginia. This is where my dad (and mom) moved back to after completing his master's degree at UNC-Chapel Hill. It was a great place to grow up, but I remedied his decision when my wife and I moved back to the Chapel Hill area 25 years ago.

Most memorable moment as an athlete?
The first was destroying my knee as a 19-year-old catcher and losing my opportunity to play at the highest level. The second was competing in two National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournaments as a golfer later in my educational journey.

Most memorable moment as a coach?
Watching the golfers on my team win a NJCAA national championship - then watching those young men graduate and move on to succeed in life.

What animal describes you best and why?
A duck. Ducks are very devoted and fiercely loyal animals who care for defend their mate, their offspring, and the flock. The leader is the strongest, but actually flies in the back position, allowing others to lead the "V". In this way, the flock stays together to support the weakest ones.

Ducks mate for life, which is reflective of my own relationship. Even though my wife and I squabble and quack about how dumb I am at times, she has my back and I have hers - always.

What is it that motivates you about coaching at High Point University?
I get satisfaction out of seeing young people challenge themselves, overcome hurdles and find successes in life that they can celebrate. Winning is a life skill that is often overlooked today - but it shouldn't be. The young adults who play for me are going to have to compete for everything they want to achieve in life. As a coach, I have a responsibility to put the tools in place for them to find success and show them winning is something to be celebrated.

How would you describe your coaching style?
I am highly competitive - you only get minimal points for participation in life. If people want to find success, they need to push themselves to excel. 

So, I believe my role is to provide the best resources possible to help athletes have an opportunity to perform at their highest level. I am nurturing when it comes to helping them understand flaws yet demanding when it comes to working to overcome those and grow. Then sit back and quietly watch them enjoy the victories they achieve.

Most importantly, why should a student consider playing club sports at High Point University?
They are coming to a place where having fun and winning is the expectation and the lifestyle. As a coach, I strive to help every student athlete improve their golf skills. 

However, winning is also not always about championships and trophies. I can help some students celebrate small wins when they see their game getting better and they shave strokes of their scores consistently. Golf is one of those sports where perfection is unattainable. We play our best day-in and day-out, hoping to always do our best when the conditions are often out of our control. The student athletes who are going to come play for me love to compete and want to find that success everywhere - classroom, course, and life.