Wallace State Community College golf coach Dan York, former Lion Brett Wetterich to be inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame on Monday

HANCEVILLE - Any national tournament appearance is special for Wallace State Community College golf coach Dan York.

The event leading up to this year's tournament may top them all.

York is set to be inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Hall of Fame Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn's Downtown Ballroom in Huntsville. Tickets to the banquet are $30.

Accompanying York into the NJCAA Hall of Fame is former Wallace State golfer and PGA Tour professional Brett Wetterich.

"It's a true honor. When I started out 23 years ago, it was a part-time job and something I figured I would do for a couple of years," York said. "I'm still here, and it's been a blessing. I've thoroughly enjoyed working with these young men, trying to make a positive impact in their lives."

Wallace State golf has succeeded tremendously during York's tenure. He's guided the school to eight conference/regional championships (1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004).

Wallace State embarks on its 15th NJCAA national tournament appearance under York, finishing second in the nation in 1993 and 1996. His teams have also finished in the top ten nationally on seven other occasions.

York has produced 13 NJCAA All-Americans and 27 Academic All-Americans, and twice been named the National Academic Team of the Year (2003-04, 2005-06).

York coached Wetterich, a Ryder Cup member, on the 1993 Wallace State team which finished as the national runner-up.

Wetterich has been limited to only three PGA Tour events in 2010 after battling shoulder, wrist and knee injuries over the past two years.

Wetterich, an Ohio native, turned pro in 1994 and had his best success on the Tour in 2007 with four Top 10 finishes and seven Top 25 finishes. He placed 27th in the final FedEx Cup standings.

"Having a coach and one of his former players inducted into the Hall of Fame during the same year is special and unique," said York, a Cullman native. "It's an awesome year for Wallace State, and I'm tickled to death because it's good publicity for the school. It's going to be a special night."

Frederick Jacobson is another York protégé competing in the PGA Tour. Jacobson recently finished sixth in the Honda Classic and 10th in The Players Championship.

Other professional players who York coached include Gary Christian and Jonathon Frickie on the Nationwide Tour and Iain Steel and Michael Lundberg on the European Tour.

Trey Jones, a member of York's first team at Wallace State, followed in York's footsteps and is the current golf coach at Florida State.

The NJCAA Hall of Fame ceremony will precede the 2010 NJCAA Division I National Golf Championship at the Robert Trent Jones River Course at Hampton Cove near Huntsville.

Wallace State and Central Alabama Community College are the co-hosts of the tournament, which begins Tuesday and resumes until May 21.

McLennan (Texas) Community College enters the tournament as the top-ranked team in the nation.

Midland College (Texas) is the defending national champion.

Wallace State will compete with five freshmen: Deane Rikard, Blaise Wilson, Andrew Lowry, Justin Cochran and Micah Jett.  

"Blaise Wilson is our No. 1 player heading into the tournament," York said. "I'm very proud of Blaise. To have a young man from the Cullman area playing so well for us is special."

For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit wallacestate.edu.