| John Knauer |
SAN ANTONIO ? UTSA Athletics Director Lynn Hickey announced Tuesday the hiring of John Knauer as the new head men’s golf coach. The College Station native spent the last 10 years as an assistant coach at the University of Arizona.
“We are extremely excited to welcome John to our coaching staff as the leader of our men's golf program.” Associate Athletics Director Elizabeth Dalton said. “It was evident during our hiring process that John Knauer was the best candidate, so to get someone of his caliber says a lot about our program and the potential it holds. Golf coaches from across the country called to endorse John as the next great head coach, so we are pleased he chose UTSA to begin his head coaching career.”
The 2006 National Assistant Coach of the Year brings 13 years of collegiate coaching experience at the Division I level to UTSA. He began his coaching career at Texas A&M (1995-98), then moved to Tucson, Ariz., where he spent the majority of his time as an assistant coach. During his stay at Arizona, he was in charge of recruiting and UA’s junior varsity program.
Knauer’s success as a recruiter has made Arizona one of the top golf programs in the country. The Wildcats have been ranked as high as second and ended the season in the top 10 in five of the last 10 seasons.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to become the next head coach at UTSA.” Knauer said. “It’s been a goal of mine to be one in charge of a program and I’m excited about this, but also it lets me go back home to Texas. In my 13-year coaching career, I’ve had the privilege to work with two great coaches in Bob Ellis (A&M) and Rick LaRosa (Arizona) and will utilize what I have learned from them and pass it on to my players.”
During his 10-year stint at Arizona, the Wildcats won two NCAA West Regional titles (2000 and ’06), advanced to 11 NCAA Championships and captured one Pac-10 conference title. Arizona also has won 19 team championships and 19 individual titles.
Meanwhile, 29 golfers earned All-Pac 10 honors, 36 all-academic accolades, 16 All-American certificates, two Pac-10 Player of the Year awards and three Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors.
Under Knauer’s direction, the junior varsity program recorded 27 top-10 finishes and three team titles against NCAA Division I opponents in seven seasons.
Prior to Arizona, Knauer got his start as a volunteer assistant coach at Texas A&M in 1995, then was promoted the following year as assistant coach. He helped the Aggies reach the NCAA Golf Championship in 1998-99 and also win a regional in 1998.
Knauer was also a high school standout at A&M Consolidated High School. He was a four-year letterwinner and earned first-team all-region and all-district accolades. Knauer was part of the 1990 team that finished third at the state tournament.
Knauer graduated from Texas A&M in 1995 with a degree in sport management.