When Northwest Shoals Community College Interim President Dr. Chris Cox announced the reinstatement of the school's athletic programs in 2021, he promised a quick timetable, beginning with the return of baseball and softball in the fall of 2022.
Less than three years later, NWSCC officials have kept their promises regarding the return of sports on campus.
With NWSCC Athletic Director Taylor Franks' announcement last week that the college will add men's and women's golf beginning in the 2026 spring semester, that will bring the total to eight sports teams for the Patriots.
In addition to men's and women's golf (2026), women's flag football and volleyball will debut this fall, joining baseball, softball and men's and women's cross country.
“In a little over three years, the college has added over 100 scholarships for student athletes,” Franks said. “It has truly been a team effort to get to this point so quickly. We have such an amazing Patriot community of former athletes, alumni and supporters who have made these opportunities for our current and future Patriots possible.”
NWSCC had a men's golf team until 2010. When women's golf begins in the spring of 2026, it will be the first time for that sport at Northwest Shoals.
As with other sports, the focus of recruiting student athletes for men's and women's golf will be securing local high school talent in the Northwest Alabama area.
“Golf has tremendous support in our community, and we have some very competitive high school teams. We look forward to having some of the best high school talent staying home to be Patriots,” Franks said.
The Patriot golf teams will consist of seven men and seven women scholarship student athletes, with walk-on opportunities to be determined by the coach.
It was devastating blow for the college and Phil Campbell community when NWSCC disbanded athletics in 2011 due to financial constraints. But the return of sports, along with a $30 million building and campus renovation project at the Phil Campbell campus, has reinforced the college's long-term commitment to its Franklin County campus. NWSCC's Phil Campbell campus was Alabama's first junior college and has opened doors for Franklin County residents to continue their post-secondary educations in a local and affordable setting.
The search for a golf coach is underway. Applications may be completed at https://nwscc.edu/college-departments/human-resources/.
