DeSantis Named Assistant Golf Coach

PROVO -- BYU announced today the hiring of former BYU All-American golfer David DeSantis as the assistant coach for the women's golf team. DeSantis, a member of BYU's 1981 national championship golf team, brings a wealth of experience as a professional golf instructor and former collegiate standout to the women's team.

"We couldn't be happier to have someone of Dave's (DeSantis) caliber join our staff," BYU head coach Sue Nyhus said. "He has all the qualities of a great coach. He is a great technical teacher that knows how to play and how to help others play well. We are thrilled to have him back at BYU."

Aside from being a class A member of the PGA since 1991 and a three-time local qualifier for the U.S. Open, Desantis has honed his mentoring abilities and leadership skills as the golf professional at various golf clubs throughout Utah, most recently with the River Oaks Golf Club in Sandy, Utah. Since October 2001 DeSantis has worked as the Director of Instruction at Unita Golf in Sandy, Utah. This won't be the first time Nyhus and DeSantis have worked together, as both were co-instructors at the Golfers Image in Salt Lake City, Utah in the late 1980s.

While at BYU, DeSantis earned distinctions as an NCAA All-American Honorable Mention in 1979 and was a member of BYU's only national championship golf team in 1981.

"I'm just excited to come back and do my part to help our women's program be among the top 20 in the nation," DeSantis said.

Desantis will fill a position vacated last year by head coach Nyhus. After long time head coach Gary Howard retired before last season, Nyhus, Howard's assistant coach, became the head coach. Last season Nyhus led the Cougars to a fourth-place finish at the Mountain West Conference tournament and an invitation to the 2002 NCAA West Regional. DeSantis is married to former BYU women's golfer Holly Hogle and they are the parents of five girls and one boy.