The first thing Puryear noticed upon settling into his new home was his players were not very close off the golf course.

That is when he knew things needed to change — and he began by being available to the team whenever they needed him.

“I’m kind of a family guy so I have an open-door policy and want the guys to feel comfortable with that as well,” Puryear said. “I know it wasn’t that way before and I wanted to build it to become that way because a team that enjoys being together and spending time together stays together, and I think they’ll win together.”

The Ping-Pong table and gaming consoles that sit in the lounge outside of Puryear’s office were obsolete before he began his first year at MSU. Puryear purchased the items to encourage the team to spend time together and build an off-course connection and camaraderie.

Senior Ryan Brehm, who spent three years golfing under the tutelage of former head coach Mark Hankins, said it was never like that before.

“You see guys out here together a lot more than you used to, which brings us closer,” Brehm said. “Coach (Puryear) totally believes that you’re only as strong as your weakest link on the team, so everybody’s working to improve together.”

Defining moment

One moment Puryear pinpoints as the time he knew the team was coming together and everything was going to work out was its first team dinner on the road. On its way to its first tournament on Sept. 10-11 in Toledo, Ohio, the team stopped at an Applebee’s for dinner.

“The first dinner I had with these guys was pretty memorable simply based on the fact they didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I realized then people are going to give you a chance if you know what you’re doing.”

The dinner served as a much-needed icebreaker for the team heading into its first competition together.

The biggest difference Brehm noted between Hankins and Puryear was the way Puryear lets the team into his personal life.

“Hankins was more individual and kept his personal life to himself,” he said. “Coach Puryear always was open about his family and everything, he has the willingness to let us into his personal life. He encouraged us to bring our family around and he brings his around.

“That never would have happened before.”

‘A really motivational coach’

Freshman Graham Baillargeon was nervous about coming to MSU after being recruited by Hankins just before he left to coach Iowa.

Being an incoming student from Canada, already bogged down by the transition from high school to college, throwing an unfamiliar face into the athletic end of things would make any new student-athlete’s head spin. Baillargeon said he didn’t know what to expect out of the whole situation.

However, all of the uncertainty and doubts melted away when he finally met Puryear.

“He’s a really motivational coach,” Baillargeon said. “He really tries to motivate you to be the best at all times, and there is just never a dull moment. He is always trying to make you work as hard as you can and never lets you slack off.”

Baillargeon credits Puryear in helping him become more relaxed on the golf course and providing humor to situations.

“Honesty is the best policy has always worked but at the same time I laugh a lot so even when I’m telling you something you need to work on, I’m smiling when I say it,” Puryear said.

“A lot of times the perception makes a huge difference.”

While golf is mainly an individual sport, a close team is still beneficial. Baillargeon said it provides better motivation for players in a team that’s close.

“You’re still a team, but if you’re all trying to beat each other you’re going to ultimately do better, and as a team that looks good,” Baillargeon said.

“We’re all really good friends and we all cheer each other on while still trying to beat each other. Most of us are actually really good friends off the golf course, so it’s pretty unique.”

Puryear said he believes all children and young people share common needs. He said it doesn’t matter where they are from, all children are looking to him for the common threes.

“They’re looking for people to care about them, people to be honest, people to be stern and fair,” he said.

“All kids want people to love them.”

He said knowing those things can be translated into anything he does. He has used this theory and applied it to every coaching or instructing position he has been in.

“All those things can be transcribed into what you’re trying to do and trying to produce and protect,” Puryear said.

“As far as the program goes I don’t think you’ll ever have any issues (when going by those three things).

“At the end of the day, all kids want to be successful. They all have dreams.”