The University of Akron Athletics
Tom Porten Named Head Men's Golf Coach
August 09 | Men's Golf
University of Akron Director of Athletics Mack
Rhoades announced today that Tom Porten
has been named head men's golf coach. He will begin his duties on
Aug. 14.
Porten replaces Donnie Darr, who resigned last month to pursue
other coaching opportunities.
Prior to coming to Akron, Porten spent 14 seasons as the head
coach of the men's golf program at Cleveland State University,
including the last six years as the head coach of both the men's
and women's teams. In 2006 he led the Vikings men's squad to the
Horizon League championship, earning league coach of the year
honors. In addition, two of his players were named to the
All-Horizon League team.
Porten was also the driving force in Sand Ridge Country Club
(Chardon, Ohio) playing host to the NCAA Division I Men's Central
Regional this past May.
"We are thrilled Tom Porten is joining our staff," Rhoades said.
"Tom has demonstrated great integrity, work ethic and passion, is a
great teacher of the game and has wonderful vision for our men's
golf program. He brings a winning attitude and will do great job
building relationships with his players, colleagues and the Akron
golf community."
Porten guided the men's team to its first ever league championship
in 1998. He was also a major factor in the founding of the CSU
women's golf program in the spring of 2001.
Porten's men's teams have produced some of the top golf talent in
the their league in recent years. Former golfers such as Tony
Caporaletti (1997), Craig Hicks (2001), Christian Komsa (2002-03)
and Billy Houle (2003) have been named to all-league golf teams
during their playing days. Former Viking golfer and coach Matt
Creech was also honored as the ninth-best teaching professional in
Ohio, according to the September 2003 issue of Golf Digest
magazine.
In 2003, Porten was named the first ever Horizon League Women's
Golf Coach of the Year. The fall of 2002 also saw the team pick up
its first-ever medalist finish in only its third season of
existence.
"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to lead a growing
program," Porten said. "There are so many good things happening at
the University. I'm hoping to bring some more success to the golf
program and piggyback all the other championship teams. It's going
to be a great adventure.
"I certainly want to thank Mack and (senior associate director of
athletics) Hunter (Yurachek) for giving me the reigns of the golf
program. I can't wait to get started."
A three-time letterwinner and captain of the CSU golf team, Porten
earned the team's most outstanding player award in 1987-88 after
winning four tournaments in the 1988 spring season. After
graduating in 1990 with a major in history and a minor in political
science, Porten turned professional and has been developing his
teaching and coaching skills ever since. After serving as an
assistant for the Vikings during the 1990-91 season, Porten was
named head coach the following season.
A native of Euclid, Ohio, Porten spent two years as the PGA
teaching professional at Westwood Country Club in Rocky River,
Ohio. Prior to that, he was the teaching assistant at Mayfield
Country Club from 1992-97 and spent 1997-98 in the same position at
Kirtland Country Club in Kirtland, Ohio.
Porten enjoys competing professionally and has won several PGA
Section tournaments. He was a top 25 finisher on the 1997 NOPGA
money list. Porten, 42, currently resides in Willoughby, Ohio with
his wife, Renee, and their three children, Ryan (13), Victoria
(10), and Anna Renee, (4).
The Tom Porten File:
Born: Dec. 21, 1963
Hometown: Euclid, Ohio
Family: Wife, Renee, and children Ryan (13), Victoria (10)
and Anna Renee (4)
Education: Lakeland Community College, 1985 - associate of
arts degree with concentration in history; Cleveland State, 1990 -
bachelor of arts and sciences degree in social studies
Coaching
Career
Year - School (Position)
2000-06 - Cleveland State University (Head Men's and Women's Golf
Coach)
1991-99 - Cleveland State University Head Men's and Golf Coach
(part-time)
Professional
Career
Years - Company/Location (Position/Job Description)
1999 - Westwood Country Club (Assistant Golf Professional)
1998 - Kirtland Country Club (Assistant Golf Professional)
1991-97 - MayfieldCountry Club (Assistant Golf Professional)
