Botetourt Golf & Swim Club | 2414 Country Club Road | Troutville, VA 24175 | (540) 992-1451

FERRUM, Virginia -- Ferrum College's football coaching staff is set to host the 2024 Hank Norton Memorial / Black Hats Golf Tournament Saturday, June 1, at Botetourt Golf & Swim Club in Troutville, Virginia. This year's tournament has been sold out.

The tournament continues a proud tradition of honoring longtime Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Hank Norton, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 91. Norton had a 34-year 277-44-11 career college coaching record and led the Panthers to four NJCAA national championships in 1965, 1968, 1974 and 1977, as well as a national runner-up finish in 1966. He also led Ferrum to four NCAA Division III playoff berths, including national semifinal finishes in 1988 and 1989.

Expected VIP guests include two-time Ferrum football All-American Chris Warren, who played who played for Norton before going on to play 11 years in the National Football League. Also expected to be there Saturday is former Ferrum Head Football Coach Dave Davis, who coached alongside Norton. Davis would go on to a 17-year career as head coach for the Panthers, leading the Panthers to a spot in the NCAA Division III playoffs after winning the USA South Athletic Conference football title in 2005.

The tournament serves as a fundraiser for the Panther football program and provides an outlet for football alums, family, friends and supporters to share a day of camaraderie and fellowship.

A silent auction will be held on site, with many items for sale. One top item is a pair of signed Steph Curry signature shoes. This item is up for early bid by emailing, ehopke@ferrum.edu. Another item is a basketball signed by ACC Tournament Champion Coach Kevin Keatts, a Ferrum alum, who led North Carolina State University to the Final Four in 2024.
 
The afternoon opens with lunch at 12:30 p.m. Golfers will be welcomed by Ferrum College President Dr. Mirta Martin at 1:15 p.m., followed by a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. Awards will be presented following the tournament somewhere around 6-6:30 p.m.