Maryvale’s Chris Compton Tees Off Inaugural Golf Season & Lands Coach of the Year Honors
By Maria Beam Gray
Building an athletic program from ground zero can take time, with grace given as new personnel and players get acclimated to a new sports offering. No one would even blink twice if a first-ever golf season produced a proverbial “mulligan”…. a do-over of sorts where each subsequent season would be a bit stronger than the last.
That's not in Maryvale’s Chris Compton’s nature, however, as the new head golf coach wasted no time getting the Lion’s inaugural golf season on par with some of the most seasoned programs in the league.
His immediate impact on players, and unprecedented success as Maryvale brought home a “B” conference championship, earned Compton the prestigious title of 2025 IAAM Golf Coach of the Year.
“This year marked a historic milestone at Maryvale: the launch of our first-ever golf team,” noted Telia Marks, Athletic Director for the Lions. “At the heart of this initiative was a coach whose vision, passion, and commitment turned an idea into an inspiring reality for our student-athletes.”
Marks also credits Compton’s character, sportsmanship, and tireless work ethic as contributing factors as to why his golfers looked up to him with admiration and always gave their own maximum effort.
"He leads with integrity, patience, and a steady presence that encourages athletes to take risks, grow their confidence, and find joy in trying something new.
Once the powers that be at Maryvale were on board for a new golf program to take flight, the next order of business was finding players. Word of mouth had 12 Maryvale girls, most raw to golf, show the first day of tryouts.
With no cuts necessary, the novice squad immediately got to work learning the basics of the game under the tutelage of a coach who knew the sport as a self-proclaimed “mediocre golfer” but who had never coached before.
“Our season was like a Disney movie,” Compton marveled. “I jokingly referred to us as the ‘Band of Misfits’ but this team cared, and they clawed, and they never gave up,”
That grit throughout the season, coupled with a steady stream of success, made the Lions legitimate contenders for the “B” Championship come playoffs. As the two-day finals entered the second day, however, the Lions were two strokes behind on the leaderboard and tied for second place.
With the rest of the “Band of Misfits” on hand to rally their teammates competing, Maryvale hit the links with a nothing-to-lose mentality and a coach who held the scorecard close to his vest. Compton knew what his players needed stroke wise at the various holes to have a shot at the title, but opted not to share that information with the girls to avoid extra pressure. The strategy paid off.
“Even though golf is an individual sport, the way it happened demonstrates why it's such a team sport too,” said Compton. “To watch them work together, and to see how they supported each other, was really rewarding.”
With only one senior graduating from Maryvale's rookie golf season, the future looks promising for the young squad. Compton is optimistic about how much the game of golf is growing overall for girls. He also takes pride in the interest his players have taken in improving. Many have already kicked off the summer hitting the links with golfers they got to know and appreciate from other IAAM schools.
“What makes Coach Compton exceptional is his dual focus on both the athletic and personal growth of his players,” praised Marks. "Our golfers found a team to call their own, a place to compete, and a coach who believed in them from day one.”