The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Golf Coach Nick Goetze Announces His Retirement
May 02 | Men's Golf
AKRON, Ohio - After leading The University of Akron men's golf team for the last four years, head coach Nick Goetze announced his retirement from collegiate coaching on Monday.
Goetze, the 18th coach in the program's 78-year history, will remain with the program through the end of May.
"It is certainly difficult to make this decision in the midst of the progress our team has made. We've improved so much over the past four years and I know our student-athletes have a bright future ahead of them," Goetze said. "I have enjoyed a wonderful experience at Akron and I've pledged my support to help the athletic administration make a smooth and seamless transition into next season."
Although Goetze will no longer be coaching collegiate golf, he has plans to pursue a new entrepreneurial direction within the golf arena starting mid-summer. Goetze, his wife and their twin children will return to their native state of Georgia to be closer to their families.
"The University of Akron and the Akron community have provided a wonderful atmosphere for us to start a family and we're very thankful for that," Goetze added. "Our parents are facing some health challenges and Linda and I really want our children to grow up having a strong relationship with their extended family. It is time for us to be closer to home."
"We are grateful for Nick's leadership of our men's golf program over the last four years," Director of Athletics Tom Wistrcill said. "In his time at Akron, he has guided the Zips to great accomplishments, both on the course and in the classroom, and has been a great mentor for our student-athletes. On behalf of The University of Akron and our athletics department, we wish him and his family all the best in their future endeavors."
The last few weeks have been a testament to the upward trend of Akron golf under the leadership of Goetze. Two weeks ago, Akron claimed a decisive 10-stroke victory at the Illini Spring Classic (April 16-17). The team's win, featured as a national upset by Golfweek magazine, saw the team defeat the likes of No. 13 ranked Illinois, No. 25 Ohio State and five other top-100 programs. The victory vaulted the Zips into the Golfweek and Golfstat top-100 rankings for the first time since the end of the 2006-07 season.
Goetze led the Zips to a fourth-place finish at the 2011 Mid-American Conference Championships over the weekend.
In four seasons at the helm of the Zips' program, Goetze led Akron to three team titles and one individual title. In addition to winning the Illini Spring Classic, the Zips won the Xavier Invitational (Oct. 5-6, 2009) and the Belmont Fall Shootout (Oct. 15-16, 2007). The lone individual title came at the Xavier Invitational by senior Lucas Murray. Goetze also led UA to its second-best finish at the MAC Championships in 2010 (third place).
A national search will begin immediately to fill the head coach vacancy.
