ECHS Names Meredith Father-Daughter Duo To Lead Golf Program

Kayla Meredith Named Head Lady Cat Golf Coach, Granville Meredith Named Head Coach of Wildcat Golf

Lady Cat Head Golf Coach Kayla Meredith is teaming up with her dad, Granville Meredith, Head Wildcat Golf Coach for the upcoming school year.

Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County High School named new coaches today for the Wildcat and Lady Cat Golf Team for the upcoming school year. Granville Meredith was named boys' coach and the girls' team will be led by his daughter and former ECHS golf standout, Kayla Meredith.

Granville is a 1988 graduate of ECHS and is returning to the course in his Edmonson County gear after serving as volunteer assistant coach for the team from 2010 through 2016.  Upon completing his first stint of coaching, Granville continued to stay busy in high school athletics as a KHSAA softball official and is currently in his 9th year as umpiring at the high school level.  

He also has 36 years experience as a youth league umpire. He is currently a WildcatsLive sports commentator on the Edmonson Voice and is employed at Delta Faucet Company in Morgantown as Information Technology Administrator.  
 
"I look forward to this opportunity," he said. "I enjoy working with youth and teaching them not only about the sport, but also about attributes they can carry with them their whole life.   I want to be a positive role model and teach them that whether you win or lose, be thankful for the opportunity.   I'm excited to be coaching at my old high school. Everybody says it but I mean it.  Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.”

Granville's daughter Kayla graduated from ECHS in 2016 after playing multiple seasons with the Lady Cat golf team where she qualified for the All-A State Tournament three times and the KHSAA State Championship her senior year. After graduating, she attended Midway University on scholarship as a member of the Lady Eagles golf team. She went on to win individual and team titles including NAIA Conference Champions for three years and also competed at the national level by qualifying for the NAIA National Championship. Kayla also works as a behavioral therapist for children with autism.

"I’m very excited to help this team," she said. "It’s a big moment for me to have the opportunity to return to my home team that I love so much, and I hope I can help create opportunities for these kids, just like the ones I had over the years."

Principal Jonathan Williams said that this is a unique opportunity for not only Granville and Kayla, but also for the school.

"I don't know that we've ever had a father-daughter combo in coaching any of our teams, so that's special and I'm excited about that," he said. "But you can't have quality coaching unless you start with quality people, and that's what we have here with Granville and Kayla. They know what they're doing and I'm looking forward to seeing where they'll take our golf program."

Granville said few get the opportunity to coach a high school sport with their children.

"After coaching Kayla for six years and seeing her reach so many of her goals, words can't express the joy of joining her as head coach for this program," he added. "She certainly knows golf, but her drive and compassion to help others is what I believe will bring her success and I look forward to being out on the course with her and the kids."

The two coaches plan on scheduling a meet-and-greet with team members soon.