GRINNELL, Iowa – Connor McKay, who has led the Grinnell College women's and men's golf programs to plenty of success as the interim coach, has been named the teams' full-time head coach.
 
A Grinnell native, McKay joined the coaching staff of both programs as an assistant in 2021 before taking the role of interim head coach in 2024.

He has coached the Pioneer women to consecutive St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) titles as well as two trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament. A two-time SLIAC Coach of the Year, McKay has mentored one All-American, three All-Region selections, two SLIAC individual champs and 13 All-Conference performers.

On the men's side, McKay coached the Pioneers to their first-ever SLIAC crown in 2026 and the first league crown for the Pioneers since 1973. They also punched their ticket to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in program history. He has coached two All-SLIAC performers.

McKay graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2019 and employed as a commercial underwriter at Grinnell Mutual. Throughout his younger years, he competed in many youth tournaments around the state of Iowa. He was a four-time All-Little Hawkeye Conference golfer while at Grinnell High School, a four-time Academic All-Conference selection and two-time state qualifier.
 
"Coach McKay's work during the interim tenure speaks for itself — in the teams' results, recruiting successes and in the steadfast support of the student-athlete experience," said Grinnell Director of Athletics and Recreation Holly Roepke. "I have every confidence that the teams will continue to thrive under his leadership."