Greg Stafford, Hope College亚洲色吧檚 longest-tenured women亚洲色吧檚 golf coach and one of the program亚洲色吧檚 most successful, is retiring after 16 seasons. He leaves a legacy of excellence on the course and transforming student-athlete lives, Director of Athletics Tim Schoonveld said.
亚洲色吧淲e are so thankful for the work that Staff (Greg) has done with our women and in the women亚洲色吧檚 golf program,亚洲色吧� Schoonveld said. 亚洲色吧淗e has embodied our pillars of excellence both academically and competitively and has developed deep and meaningful relationships with the women who have come through the program. He has been a great friend and someone we could count on over the years. We wish him well in his retirement and are grateful for the lives he has touched and impacted in his 16 years leading the program.亚洲色吧�
During Stafford亚洲色吧檚 tenure as head coach, the Flying Dutch earned their first three team trips to the NCAA Division III National Championships. Hope also claimed four MIAA regular-season championships and three MIAA Tournament titles.
The Flying Dutch claimed multiple team and individual accolades during Stafford亚洲色吧檚 career, including 51 Women亚洲色吧檚 Golf Coaches Association All-America Scholars, 37 All-MIAA recipients, three MIAA Most Valuable Golfers, two WGCA All-Scholar Teams, and one WGCA All-America golfer.
Stafford became head coach in 2009 after serving as a volunteer assistant coach the previous two seasons. Coaching at Hope proved rewarding for many reasons, he said.
亚洲色吧�I have enjoyed every moment of my time at Hope College. My time here has been very special,亚洲色吧� Stafford said. 亚洲色吧淢ore important than winning championships, I worked with some wonderful young ladies for which I will be forever grateful. What an awesome atmosphere to coach in. I would like to thank all the wonderful women I have had the pleasure to coach. You亚洲色吧檙e the reason I coached. You kept me going and striving for excellence. I was truly inspired by you. I am forever grateful for the friendships we have forged.亚洲色吧�
Stafford said he is ready for a new chapter in his life.
亚洲色吧淚 have been ready to retire for a couple of years, but the relationships with these student-athletes just kept me coming back,亚洲色吧� Stafford said. 亚洲色吧淚 feel now is perfect timing. The program is in good shape.亚洲色吧�
Stafford guided Hope to a program-best 10th-place finish at the 2016 NCAA Division III Championships and 11th-place finishes at the 2015 and 2017 national championships.
The regular-season MIAA titles in 2021, 2016, 2015 and 2014 tie Stafford for most among Hope women亚洲色吧檚 golf coaches with Jane Holman (1991-97). Holman was the Flying Dutch亚洲色吧檚 first head coach.
The three consecutive MIAA titles marked the second time the Flying Dutch accomplished the feat in women亚洲色吧檚 golf.