Rodgers Appointed Full-Time Head Golf Coach

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – Carnegie Mellon University Director of Athletics Josh Centor has announced the appointment of Dan Rodgers as full-time head golf coach of both the men's and women's programs. The first head coach of the varsity women's golf program, Rodgers was hired in a part-time capacity in 2014, and has been the interim head coach of the men's program for the last three months, also in a part-time role. He served as assistant men's golf coach for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

"This is an exciting day for Carnegie Mellon University, our athletics program and the men's and women's golf community," said Centor. "We are elated to be able to bring Dan on in a full-time capacity to build upon the great work he has done teaching and mentoring our young men and women."

While serving as a part-time coach, Rodgers has had much success the past two years with the women's program as the Tartans won 10 tournaments during that time. In Rodgers' second year, Summer Kitahara earned University Athletic Association (UAA) individual medalist as a sophomore, while Carly Jordan was voted the UAA Rookie of the Year.  The program also earned its first Division III All-Region honor from the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) when Kitahara was named to the East Team.

"We have already had outstanding success in the first two-plus years of competition with our women's varsity program, and know that having a full-time coach with Dan's credentials will have a transformative impact on our ability to compete at the highest level regionally and nationally," Centor said.

During his short stint thus far at the helm of the men's program, Rodgers has led the team to its first national ranking, two second-place finishes and a tournament victory at the annual home fall invitational played a Long Vue Golf Club. The team also placed sixth among a field of 17 teams at the Oglethorpe Royal Lakes Invitational, in which the tournament field consisted of five teams ranked nationally in the top 20.

"I am thrilled about the opportunity to become the full-time coach of the men's and women's golf programs at Carnegie Mellon," said Rodgers. "Coaching collegiate golf has been a goal of mine and this transition is a tremendous opportunity for both programs. Having the ability to be with the players on a more regular basis and to help them develop their games will do wonders for the future of the men's and women's teams."

Rodgers has been the assistant golf professional at the Sewickley Heights Golf Club in Sewickley, Pa., since 2009. He managed a staff of nearly 20, trained golf operations professionals, supervised tournaments and taught members through clinics and lessons. Rodgers has also worked at the Wildwood Golf Club in Allison Park, Pa., and Valley Brook Country Club in McMurray, Pa. In 2008, he was elected as a PGA Professional and has been actively involved in tournament participation, including a 20th-place finish on the 2013 TriState PGA point list and a victory at the 2011 TriState PGA Assistants Championship.

Rodgers is a 2004 graduate of Slippery Rock University.  He received a Bachelor of Science degree in business management.  While at Slippery Rock, he was a three-year letter winner and a two-year captain for the golf team.  Rodgers earned a Master of Science in sports management from California University of Pennsylvania in 2010 with a concentration in intercollegiate athletic administration.