When Sam Puryear arrived at Howard University, he was not taking over a program. He was building one from the ground up.
Howard University had not fielded a golf program in nearly 50 years, leaving Puryear with an opportunity to start fresh. For a coach with experience at Stanford University and Michigan State University, the move was less about status and more about impact.
“At the end of the day, dealing with an institution that values education was exciting,” Puryear said.
Starting over came with immediate challenges. Without a deep golf tradition or alumni network, building support for the program required persistence and creativity.
“The hardest part was trying to convince a base where you didn’t have golf alumni to support the program,” Puryear said.
Despite that, Howard golf has grown into a standout program. The team has earned top rankings among historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) over the past several years and captured multiple national titles in that category.
“My goal is to mainstream the program so people don’t say, ‘Here comes an HBCU,’ but ‘Here comes a good golf program,’” Puryear said.
A major part of the program’s rise stems from its increased visibility, fueled in part by NBA star and donor Stephen Curry, whose involvement has helped elevate attention and expectations around Howard golf.
“When you’re working with a guy like Stephen Curry, it lets people realize that we’re serious about building winners,” Puryear said.
Curry’s support, along with national media attention from projects like the “Why Not Us” documentary series, helped position Howard golf on a larger stage. Puryear said that visibility has shifted how the program is viewed by recruits, fans and the golf community.
“It’s gotten a lot of people interested in the university,” Puryear said. “People are starting to see Howard as a destination.”
Still, Puryear emphasized that the foundation of the program is not celebrity attention but discipline and development.
“I’m a fundamentals guy,” he said. “We aim to teach and develop, and we spend a lot of time on the short game, because that’s what makes the difference.”
That mindset extends beyond athletic performance. Puryear prioritizes personal growth and accountability within his program.
“I want them to realize their level of commitment is everything,” he said. “Their attitude will determine their altitude.”
Much of Puryear’s philosophy traces back to his own playing career under trailblazing coach Catana Starks at Tennessee State University. He said her leadership showed him the power of belief and trust in a team setting.
“When players believe in you and trust you, they’re willing to run through a wall for you,” Puryear said. “That shaped how I lead today.”
He aims to have the program compete with other high ranking teams.
“My goal is to mainstream the program so people don’t say, ‘Here comes an HBCU,’ but ‘Here comes a good golf program,’” Puryear said.
For Puryear, success is measured not only in championships but in what comes after college.
“I hope people say we built an incredible program with young people who could compete with anyone and became professionals in life,” he said.
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.