McKendree University Athletics

Mikal Guffey oversees the Bearcat’s men’s and women’s golf programs. He was named as the interim Director of Golf at McKendree University in January 2017 and was initially named as the interim Head Coach of the women's golf program in November 2015. 

In 2021-22, Guffey led the Bearcats men's program to just its second-ever appearance at the NCAA Midwest/Central Regional hosted by the University of Indianapolis. The team finished seventh at NCAA Regionals, which is the best finish in the program's history at the Division II level. In addition, the Bearcats finished fourth in the stroke play portion of the GLVC Championships to advance to the semifinals of the GLVC Match/Medal Play, where they fell 3-2 to UMSL. During the 2021-22 regular season, the Bearcats won five tournament titles and had two players - Phasin Vichitcharoenpaisarn (2) and Fabian Wennerlof (3) win a total of five tournaments individually. Wennerlof became the first Bearcat men's golfer to earn GLVC Freshman of the Year honors and Wennerlof and Will Postlethewaite each earned All-GLVC honors. 

The 2020-21 Bearcat men's team took home one tournament title as they were champions of the Kentucky Wesleyan College Spring Invitational. In addition, the team placed fifth at the GLVC Championships and was just short of making the top four and advancing to the Match/Medal play round. Vichitcharoenpaisarn was selected as an individual (just the second one in the school's NCAA history) to compete at the NCAA Midwest/Central Regional that was held at Shoal Creek Golf Club in Kansas City, Mo. Additionally, Postlethewaite was named a PING Division II All-Midwest Region selection. 

Guffey led the McKendree men's program to a strong start in its 2019-20 season. The Bearcats earned top-10 finishes in each of their five tournaments that were contested, including a victory at the Midwest Regional hosted by the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a second place effort at the Bearcat Dual Gender. He also coached a pair of All-Great Lakes Valley Conference performers in Will Postlethwaite and Phasin Vichitcharoenpaisarn, both of whom were ranked in the top 30 of the Golfstat rankings. For his efforts, Guffey was named the 2019-20 GLVC Men's Golf Coach of the Year. 

In 2018-19, Guffey guided the McKendree men's program to top 10 finishes in each of the squad's nine tournaments. The Bearcats won the Cedarville University Invitational in the fall, added a second place showing at the Bearcat Dual Gender and also had two third place efforts. The 2017-18 campaign was highlighted by three tournament victories for the McKendree men along with the program's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II regionals. Keenai Sampson wrapped up a stellar career for the Bearcats by earning All-GLVC honors for the fourth year in a row.

Guffey also coached Keenai Sampson to the Bearcats' first individual appearance at the NCAA field during the Spring 2017 campaign. Sampson responded by winning the Central/Midwest Regional crown, firing a course-record 63 during first-round play at Awarii Dunes in Nebraska. Sampson's victory earned the junior a berth at the NCAA Division II Championships, where he tied for 20th at the event. 

As a teacher of the game, Guffey has instructed players of all levels – high school, collegiate and semiprofessional – to work on their skills and improve every time they step onto the course.

A veteran golf administrator and instructor, Guffey came to McKendree following a two-year stint as the Director of Golf, instructor and head professional at Grand Marais Golf Club in Centreville, Ill. In addition to running the entire golf operation at Grand Marais, Guffey taught the game to newcomers and instructed individuals in honing their golf skills. Guffey also has experience as a golf professional at The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe and The Santaluz Golf Club, both of which are located in San Diego, Cali.

On the business side, Guffey has worked in golf instruction and sales at The Golf Centre in nearby Fairview Heights, and has also served as an apparel sales representative for Nike in northern California.

Guffey earned his bachelor's degree in advertising and marketing from Bradley University in 2001. He also received an associate's degree in golf complex operations and management from the San Diego Golf Academy. Guffey resides in nearby O'Fallon.