Steve Colnitis, a member of the Notre Dame men's golf team from 2001-05, has been named the new assistant coach for the Irish, head coach Jim Kubinski announced Wednesday.

Steve Colnitis Named Assistant Men's Golf Coach

Aug. 10, 2005

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Steve Colnitis, a member of two BIG EAST Conference championship teams and two NCAA Central Regional qualifying squads at Notre Dame from 2001-05, has been named assistant men’s golf coach for the Irish, head coach Jim Kubinski announced Wednesday. Colnitis (pronounced coal-NIGHT-iss) will aid in many of the day-to-day operations of the men’s golf program, including recruiting, practice planning and travel scheduling.

“Steve has a tremendous work ethic and a great commitment to our program,” Kubinski said. “Those qualities, combined with his academic record, golf background and great energy and enthusiasm, make him an outstanding addition to what we’re building. Steve is certainly well respected by each member of our team and I couldn’t be happier to have him on board. We have a chance to achieve many exciting goals this season and the comfort level amongst our players in hiring Steve has been apparent immediately. We’re all looking forward to a winning season and Steve will play a significant role in everything we’re doing.”

“I am very excited for the opportunity to remain a part of the Notre Dame community,” Colnitis said. “I have had the pleasure of seeing our team improve drastically during my playing career and I am pleased to say that we will have one of the strongest teams we have ever had this year. Our team has a great chance to really perform this year and I am thrilled to have the chance to continue being a part of our team’s success.”

Colnitis joins the Irish coaching staff following a four-year career on the Notre Dame men’s golf team, earning a pair of monograms along the way. He competed in 13 tournaments during his career, posting a 77.86 stroke average, and his best finish was a tie for 17th place in a dual match against 11th-ranked TCU in April 2005. He also registered a 20th-place finish at the BIG EAST Championship as a freshman in 2002. This past season, Colnitis served as a tri-captain for the Irish, helping Notre Dame earn its second consecutive BIG EAST title and a return trip to the NCAA Central Regional. There, the Irish wound up a mere two strokes shy of advancing to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1966.

Colnitis graduated from Notre Dame in May, earning his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Mendoza College of Business. He also garnered Dean’s List honors during the fall 2004 semester. A native of Baldwin, Md., the 22-year-old Colnitis now resides in South Bend.

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