Former FSU coach Pat Kennedy takes a swing at a new minimum wage gig at the golf course

Posted by Admin September 13, 2024 Golf

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Why not?

The job description sounded cool, it is an outdoor gig, and the best part? It’s an opportunity to be around fellow Florida State Seminoles.

After leaving Jefferson County High School last June after two years as the school’s athletic director and basketball coach, Pat Kennedy was recently hired as a ranger and starter at Seminole Legacy Golf Club.

“I was looking around to see what was out there and I thought this looks like a fun thing,” Kennedy told the Tallahassee Democrat. “It’s been unbelievable, really neat. The folks out there are great to work for. Honestly, it has been a chance to reconnect and meet so many people.

“Some have looked and said, ‘Aren’t you Pat Kennedy?’ “

Yes he is.

Kennedy, 72, spent 31 years as a Division I men’s basketball coach and led FSU to the NCAA Tourney five times during his 11-year tenure (1985-87). He returned to Tallahassee in 2022, when he was named AD and boys basketball coach at Jefferson County K-12 in Monticello.

Wanting to stay active and focus on his health, Kennedy said he’s logging 25-30 hours a week on a morning schedule and is working for minimum wage. Among his responsibilities are maintaining the tee time schedule on the first hole as a starter and directing the flow of traffic on the course as a ranger.

Kennedy also wants to return to playing golf. He’s recovering from a back procedure and has dropped more than 30 pounds.

While at FSU, Kennedy often played golf with legendary FSU football coach Bobby Bowden during Bowden’s spring tour around the state. Each city’s Seminole Boosters Club usually held a golf tourney in the morning, followed by an evening banquet.

Kennedy said “I was never a great golfer by any means” but those memories with Bowden are among his favorite.

Kennedy, known for his affable personality, has never met a stranger either. And his love for FSU is genuine and passionate.

Just ask FSU men’s golf coach Trey Jones.

Jones, who had never previously met Kennedy, was showing the course to a pair of recruits when they connected with Kennedy at the first tee. After introductions, Kennedy quickly went into a sales pitch that, if a golf drive from FSU’s perspective, was crushed down the middle of the fairway.

“He went from starter to head coach and recruiter in half-a-second,” Jones said and laughed.

“It was the damndest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. He told the guys they would love it here, look how good the golf team is, this course, they’d get a degree from FSU. He went instant infomercial, jut like that. A coach is a coach. You can’t get it out of him.”

FSU women’s golf coach Amy Bond said she did a double-take when she initially passed by Kennedy on the first tee.

“I was like, wow. I know that guy but who is it?” Bond said. “He yelled, ‘Hey coach,’ but I was running late so I just waved and said hey back. Then I realized who it was, and then I saw him in the pro shop two days later. It is so great to see him and have him at the course.”

Kennedy recalled a good friend telling him a few years ago that he had found the best job in the world.

Kennedy asked what was the job?

“He said golf ranger,” Kennedy said and laughed.

“He’s right. I saw the job description posted and said why not? This has been so much fun. I am really having a great time.”

Jim Henry is Tallahassee Democrat sports editor. Email him at jjhenry@tallahassee.com