Domestic violence arrest results in CCU men’s golf coach suspension

Coastal Carolina University men’s golf coach Kevin McPherson has been indefinitely suspended from his position following an arrest early Wednesday morning on charges of misdemeanor second degree domestic violence.

McPherson was arrested after Horry County Police responded to a complaint by his wife of two years shortly after midnight Tuesday.

He was held at J. Reuben Long Detention Center until being released late Wednesday afternoon following a bond hearing and posting the required 10 percent of his $2,500 bond.

CCU men’s assistant golf coach Chad Wilson will handle all administrative and program responsibilities during McPherson’s suspension, the school announced. CCU Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations Mike Cawood said the school would not disclose whether the suspension was with or without pay.

According to the police report, McPherson’s wife accused him of assaulting her at a private boat landing in Murrells Inlet following a verbal argument.

She alleges in the police report that McPherson grabbed her by the throat and lifted her from the deck of a boat, restricting her breathing, then threw her, causing the right side of her face to strike the boat.

The police report states she had apparent swelling to the right side of her face, a black eye and red marks on the right side of her neck — alleged injuries that were photographed at the scene. She told police that McPherson has assaulted her in the past.

McPherson later was taken into custody at his parents’ home in Murrells Inlet.

During Wednesday’s bond hearing, Kevin McPherson’s attorney, Amy Lawrence of the Lovely Law Firm, said the complaint is a ploy to eventually receive alimony and she will “hold the alleged victim accountable.” Lawrence said the couple has been separated for the past month and McPherson’s wife has told him over that period that she will seek alimony.

She reiterated the accusation after the hearing. “It disgusts me that by doing this she takes the voice away from real victims of criminal domestic violence,” said Lawrence, who added that she provides pro bono work for domestic violence victims.

Lawrence said she believes there was a witness to the alleged assault who will support McPherson’s defense.

McPherson, who Lawrence said has no criminal record, is forbidden by the court from contacting his wife before his next court appearance.

McPherson, 36, a Conway native who played for the Conway High golf team, took over the CCU men’s program in September 2013, a few weeks after the resignation of Allen Terrell following 13 years leading the program.

CCU self-reported violations within its men's golf program of improper extra benefits and recruiting misconduct allegedly committed by Terrell to the NCAA, and endured two years of uncertainty during McPherson’s tenure while waiting for the NCAA to hand down penalties.

Those penalties, announced in September 2015, included one year of probation, recruiting restrictions, vacation of certain golf records and a $5,000 fine. Some of the penalties had already been self-imposed by CCU.

Coastal Carolina finished ninth in the Big South Conference Championship in April, and finished third and fourth in the conference in his McPherson’s first two seasons, respectively.

Prior to his hire at CCU, McPherson spent the prior two seasons as the head men's coach at Augusta State and was part of the Jaguars' back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2010 and 2011 as an assistant coach. He additionally served as the Jaguars' head women's coach from 2008-11.

McPherson could not be reached for comment following his release Wednesday. His wife declined comment following the bond hearing.