Jason Payne - Head Coach - Staff Directory - Mercer University Athletics

Staff Directory

Jason Payne

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
Phone:
(478) 301-5349

Jason Payne returned for his second stint at Mercer as he was named the Head Men's Golf Coach on June 24, 2021.

He previously spent time at the University of Georgia, Georgia Southern and Charleston Southern. He comes back to Middle Georgia after serving as the head coach at Charleston Southern for the previous four years.

Payne was named the 2020-21 Big South Coach of the Year as he guided Charleston Southern to its best statistical season in program history with four Buccaneers finishing among the top-20 scorers in the Big South Conference. CSU ended the 2021 regular season with a team stroke average of 288.10 to set a new program record while boasting an impressive 21-1 overall record against conference competition. Payne coached Ben Carroll to Big South Freshman of the Year honors this season and saw Tyler Beeck and Jake Carter earn All-Conference recognition as well.

He coached six Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-America Scholars, including Dylan Pascot and Art Griffin who became the first two players to earn this distinction in CSU history during Payne’s first season in 2017-18. Payne saw three Big South All-Conference honorees and three Big South All-Freshman selections during his tenure in Charleston and led the Bucs to team tournament titles at the 2019 Wexford Intercollegiate and the 2021 Pinnacle Bank Intercollegiate.

Prior to CSU, Payne worked at his alma mater, the University of Georgia, from 2007 through 2013 and was an integral part of one of the best stretches in program history as both an assistant coach and the Executive Director of the UGA Tee-Off Club, the fundraising arm of Georgia Golf. He spent the first four years as an assistant coach and saw the Bulldogs finish the regular season as the top-ranked team in the nation in both 2008 and 2009 and won SEC titles in 2009 and 2010. During Payne's four seasons under head coach Chris Haack, the Bulldogs piled up 13 All-American and 14 All-SEC selections. Payne had the opportunity to coach Russell Henley, the 2010 Haskins Award winner, and now a multiple time winner on the PGA Tour. While at UGA, Payne also coached future PGA Tour winners Harris English, Brian Harman, Hudson Swafford, Keith Mitchell, and 2018 Masters Champion, Patrick Reed. Other notable players that Payne coached in Athens are the 2009 Walker Cup Member, Adam Mitchell, and the 2011 British Amateur Champion, Bryden Macpherson.

In his role as Executive Director of the UGA Tee-Off Club from 2011 through 2013, Payne spearheaded fundraising efforts with an eye toward major gifts and donor stewardship and solicitation. He managed the club's annual operations and helped membership exceed 400 members, while also increasing the team’s endowment from $275,000 to over 2.5 million.

At Mercer, Payne helped the Bears mature as a young Division I program. Mercer played a top-30 schedule in 2007, and moved up over 100 spots in the Golfstat rankings from the previous year. In the classroom, Mercer produced more Academic All-Americans than any other Division I golf program in the country during Payne's tenure. He also raised 100 percent of the funds that resulted in the vision and plan for an on-campus practice facility, and aided the department as a whole by facilitating the founding of The Mercer University "M" Club, the student-athlete alumni fundraising association.

Payne got his start in coaching at Georgia Southern University, where he helped the Eagles reach back to back NCAA post season appearances, with the 2002 team advancing to the NCAA Finals. In 2003, Payne assisted in Georgia Southern winning the Southern Conference Championship while also coaching the second consecutive Southern Conference Freshman of The Year. Notable players that Payne coached in Statesboro include Aron Price, a finalist for the 2005 Ben Hogan Award, who went on to reach the PGA Tour.

A 2001 graduate of the University of Georgia, Payne earned his Bachelor’s degree in Consumer Economics, where he later served on the Alumni Board for the College of Family and Consumer Science. While on the Alumni Board, Payne convinced former classmate, Bubba Watson to come back to Athens and finish his degree in Consumer Economics. Coach Payne holds a Masters degree in Sport Management from Georgia Southern University. In 2013, Payne was nominated for the University of Georgia’s 40 Under 40 program, which recognizes the personal, professional and philanthropic achievements of UGA graduates under the age of 40.

Payne is married to the former Angela Fortenberry of Denver, N.C. The two met while in college at the University of Georgia. They have 3 children, Jackson (11), Harris (7), and Anna Caroline (6).