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July 10, 2009
IUP head golf coach Fred Joseph continued his string of PSAC Coach of the Year honors when he was selected for the award for the 2008-09 season by his conference peers. Joseph received the award for the ninth time in his 17 seasons as head coach at IUP, including five of the past six years. Joseph led the Crimson Hawks to their second straight Division II Super Regional title and a 12th place finish at the NCAA championship tournament, tying the 1993 team for IUP's best ever showing at nationals. IUP was in the NCAA tournament for the 13th consecutive season. The Crimson Hawks also claimed the PSAC championship in October with a 13-stroke win over Clarion. That was the last in a string of four consecutive tournament titles for IUP during the fall season. IUP has taken the past two conference crowns and eight in the last 12 years. When the season resumed in the spring, the Crimson Hawks had two second place finishes and a pair of third place showings entering the Atlantic/East Super Regional. At the regional tournament in Daniels, W.Va., IUP rallied from a 13-shot deficit after the first round to edge Fayetteville State by three strokes to win their third region championship and earn a trip to nationals for the seventh time under Joseph. Under Joseph's direction, junior Gavin Smith became the first IUP golfer to win an NCAA individual title when he captured the national championship in Blaine, Wash., in late May. Smith was named a first team All-America and is the two-time PSAC Player of the Year. Also starring this season for the Crimson Hawks was sophomore Leo Acklin who won medalist honors at the PSAC tournament and fell just one stroke shy of first place at the regional tournament. |
