The Monarchs have won 14 NCAA Division III national championships in 37 years under the direction of Steve Conley, most recently bringing home the title in 2024. The program's 13th national title, back in 2022, took sole possession of an NCAA Division III Championship record for the most titles won by an institution. Conley was elected into the PGA Quarter Century Club in January 2021.
After winning the NCAA Division III national title in 2018, the Monarchs followed up with a fifth-place finish at the national championship in 2019, a second-place finish in 2021, and another national title in 2022. Conley and Methodist won nine national championships in the 1990s, including six consecutive from 1994-1999. The Monarchs also won national championships in 2010 and 2015.
The Monarchs have finished in the top five nationally in 34 out of 37 seasons since Conley was hired at Methodist following the 1987 season. The 26-time USA South Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, 19-time NCAA Division III South Region Coach of the Year, and nine-time NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year has produced 10 individual national champions, 64 All-Americans (with 116 honors) and 23 Scholar All-Americans. Conley also earned his 150th tournament win during the 2022 season.
In 2010, Conley was a charter inductee to the USA South Athletic Conference Hall of Fame as Methodist has won 25 DIAC/USA South Athletic Conference Championships under Conley’s watch.
Conley also serves Methodist as an assistant professor and assistant director of PGA Golf Management.
Conley is an active member of the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA). He has achieved the highest level of rating at the PGA/USGA Rules Workshop. In 2007, at age 44, he was the youngest coach to ever be inducted into the GCAA Hall of Fame.
During the summer of 1998, Conley represented his country as the USA coach for the USA/Japan Matches in Tochigi-Ken, Japan.
The 1986 Murray State graduate earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with honors. While at MSU, Conley earned Academic All-American status and notched two collegiate tournament victories. He later earned a master’s degree in education with a concentration in physical education from Campbell University in 1991.
Conley's Record at MU…
| Season |
Conference
Tour. Finish |
NCAA
Tour. Finish
|
Coach of Year recognition |
| 1987-88 |
2nd |
5th |
|
| 1988-89 |
1st |
2nd |
DIAC, Regional, National |
| 1989-90 |
1st |
1st |
DIAC, Regional, National |
| 1990-91 |
1st |
1st |
DIAC, Regional |
| 1991-92 |
2nd |
1st |
Regional |
| 1992-93 |
1st |
3rd |
DIAC, Regional |
| 1993-94 |
1st |
1st |
DIAC, Regional |
| 1994-95 |
1st |
1st |
DIAC, Regional, National |
| 1995-96 |
1st |
1st |
DIAC, Regional |
| 1996-97 |
1st |
1st |
DIAC, Regional, National |
| 1997-98 |
1st |
1st |
|
| 1998-99 |
1st |
1st |
DIAC |
| 1999-2000 |
1st |
2nd |
DIAC |
| 2000-01 |
1st |
3rd |
DIAC |
| 2001-02 |
2nd |
3rd |
|
| 2002-03 |
1st |
5th |
DIAC, Regional |
| 2003-04 |
1st |
4th |
USA South, Regional |
| 2004-05 |
1st |
4th |
|
| 2005-06 |
1st |
3rd |
USA South |
| 2006-07 |
1st |
24th |
USA South, Regional |
| 2007-08 |
1st |
4th |
USA South, Regional |
| 2008-09 |
1st |
3rd |
USA South |
| 2009-10 |
1st |
1st |
USA South, Regional, National |
| 2010-11 |
2nd |
T-3rd |
|
| 2011-12 |
2nd |
3rd |
USA South |
| 2012-13 |
1st |
3rd |
USA South, Regional |
| 2013-14 |
2nd |
4th |
USA South |
| 2014-15 |
2nd |
1st |
National |
| 2015-16 |
1st |
T-5th |
|
| 2016-17 |
1st |
7th |
|
| 2017-18 |
2nd |
1st |
USA South, Regional, National |
| 2018-19 |
2nd |
5th |
|
| 2019-20^ |
— |
(No. 8) |
^Season halted 3/16/20 (COVID pandemic),
No postseason, final Golfstat.com rank |
| 2020-21 |
3rd |
2nd |
USA South, Regional |
| 2021-22 |
1st |
1st |
USA South, Regional, National |
| 2022-23 |
1st |
T-3rd |
USA South |
| 2023-24 |
1st |
1st |
USA South, Regional, National |
