Ole Miss Men’s Golf defeated No. 2 Florida in the SEC Championship on Sunday, April 26, marking the team’s first championship win in 41 years. Head coach Chris Malloy spoke to the media on Tuesday, April 28, about the historic victory.
The team has faced multiple obstacles this year. 2025 individual national champion Michael La Sasso departed Ole Miss for the professional golf league LIV in January 2026, and Winter Storm Fern interrupted the team’s preparation for the spring season.
“They rallied around each other. They have that confidence,” Malloy said. “We were thrown a couple haymakers — the (Michael La Sasso) thing, and then we had the ice storm. That affected a lot of people. In an outdoor sport, and a sport like golf, the ice storm was suboptimal to say the least, so that’s how our semester started.”
Malloy said the team had some on-course difficulties, as well. After setbacks and low points in play throughout the semester, the head coach pointed to a season-altering match.
“We played well down at Mississippi State. We blew an 11- or 12-shot lead at their event,” Malloy said. “On the back nine and a couple of times this year, we’ve let the wheels come off a little bit in those moments. I thought that on that back nine, (the Ole Miss players) held it together. (They) came back and were co-champions at the end of the day. I walked away from that one, and I thought, ‘That was a turning point.’”
A big reason for the Rebels’ success was their mindset. Malloy and the Rebels found a mentality that guided them to the championship victory.
“I’ve said this many times this week — we haven’t been very good at being hunted. We’ve got to stay the hunters, and we’ve got to have that chip on our shoulder,” Malloy said. “Our mentality throughout the week … was, ‘Screw ‘em all,’ and ‘No one believes in us. It’s us against the world.’ They’re good with that mentality.”
Malloy has been the head coach of the men’s golf team since 2014. He spoke about his journey to this championship after 12 years.
“(There were) a lot of highs, a lot of lows, but that’s part of it,” Malloy said. “I told you guys that we’d be standing here, our guys would have that trophy in their hands, and we’re going to win a team national championship. … In my heart, I believed it. I’ve never wavered in that.”
With the SEC Championship secured, the Rebels will set their sights on winning the NCAA Championship. The Rebels have been close to acquiring that title in recent years, including a third-place finish last year, but this conference win will go a long way toward that next step.
Before they can get to the finals, however, the Rebels have to go through a regional competition, which is a daunting challenge in itself. Regionals are set for May 18-20. A location has not yet been set for the regional.
“You got to be sharp that week and get through and have confidence. Sometimes people get into that week and try to pretend it’s something that it’s not,” Malloy said. “It is just another tournament. It’s a qualifier to get to finals. (The Ole Miss players) had success in that last year, so I think they can draw on that, and then from this week, there’s nothing but confidence they can draw on.”
While this win is a major accomplishment for the program, Malloy has bigger goals for Ole Miss.
“We’re still going through it. We’re not there yet. We’re still finishing up some facilities and some things that are needed to really continue to elevate our recruiting,” Malloy said. “My goal is to be a perennial Top-5 team, and we have to have the whole bag of things — golf courses, facilities, all that stuff. We’re not there yet. We’re certainly going in the right direction, and this helped validate those things.”
Malloy, an Ole Miss alumnus, said he is wholeheartedly devoted to the university.
“I love Ole Miss, love it with all my heart. That’s what makes this even more special,” Malloy said. “I love what we have at Ole Miss. I love Ole Miss Golf, certainly. There’s nobody that (Rebel women’s golf head coach) Kory (Henkes) has rooting harder for her than me. There’s nobody that Jamie (Trachsel) at softball has rooting harder or harder. …I’m Ole Miss through and through and always will be.”
Malloy won conference championships at South Florida and Florida State, but this victory is different.
“Those were all special. This is just a little bit more special. It’s (my) alma mater, and I love it with everything,” Malloy said.
