COLUMBIA - Columbia International University has named Major McWhorter, interim head men's golf coach, after Jake Montgomery's departure from the program. 

Montgomery will rejoin the professional circuit as a player after three years as the leader of CIU's golf program. Montgomery's tenure ushered in the most successful stretch of the program's history as the Rams capped the 2024-2025 season by finishing second at the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Direct Qualifier, nearly securing their first-ever AAC title. 

"The decision to move on from coaching was a very tough decision for me to make.  I love CIU and the CIU golf team and will forever cherish the memories I made with them," said Montgomery. "CIU golf is a program on the rise, and I fully expect Coach Major to keep building this program into a powerhouse.  I'm looking forward to seeing what's in store for the future of CIU golf."

McWhorter assisted Montgomery for the last two seasons and will take over a program with high expectations for the 2025-2026 seasons. 

"I'm excited to take over as interim head coach at CIU. We have a great group of guys and a ton of potential in this program. I am grateful for Coach Jake Montgomery and Stefan Vasiloff for their efforts in making this a smooth transition", said McWhorter. "Big things are ahead for CIU golf, and I'm ready for our chance to compete."

A four-year letter winner for CIU in golf, McWhorter now owns and operates 2MGolf, a golf instruction business offering junior lessons, advanced lessons, and camps. McWhorter also serves Ben Lippen School as the Head of Youth Golf Development. 

Director of Athletics Stefan Vasiloff spoke on McWhorter's hire, saying, "Building on the foundation of success that Jake laid is paramount. Major was a big part of that success as an assistant coach, so he is familiar with the work that it takes to keep a program performing at a high level. I am excited for Major to move into this role not only because of his experience but also because of the strong relationships he already has with our athletes."

McWhorter holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from CIU and is a Professional Golf Association (PGA) Associate member.