Jeff Groff - Head Coach

Contact: jeff.groff@allegheny.edu
814-332-2811

To say the men's golf team at Allegheny is a model for consistency is almost an understatement. For the last 30 years, the Gators have been at a level unmatched by any other squad in NCAA Division III, and for over two-thirds of that span, Jeff Groff has been involved.

Groff, who is entering his 22nd year at Allegheny and sixth as the head golf coach, led his Gators back to the NCAA Division III Championships in 2006 for the 30th consecutive season, a mark topped only by Division I powerhouse Oklahoma State University, which participated in its 60th NCAA Championship this past spring.

Allegheny finished 10th overall at nationals, its highest finish since 2001. Two Gators earned All-America honors and freshman Chris Moore picked up the Phil Mickelson Award as the top freshman in all of Division III.

Allegheny assured itself a spot at the NCAA's by wrapping up its ninth North Coast Athletic Conference title in 2006, and the first for the program since 2001. The Gators made quite a comeback on the final day, erasing a five-stroke deficit and winning the event by five strokes. Groff was named the NCAC co-Coach of the Year, his second conference coaching honor in as many years, and five Allegheny golfers finished among the top-10, including tourney medalist Chris Moore.

Over the last five seasons, the Gators have finished among the top-20 in the nation and the top-three in the highly competitive NCAC. Six athletes have earned All-America honors under Groff, including four-time winner Ben Rathfon who was also the recipient of the Frank Fuhrer III Award as the top collegiate player in Western Pennsylvania in 2005.

In 2004, Groff was named the Eaton Golf Pride Mid-Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year as he led the Gators to wins at both the fall and spring Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournaments. The following season, he picked up his first NCAC Coach of the Year honor as the squad won six events and captured runner-up at the conference championship.

Groff is a 1983 graduate of Millersville (Pa.) University, where he played baseball and was an Academic All-American outfielder as a senior. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from his alma mater and went on to earn his master's in sports administration from Kent State University in 1985.

A native of Lancaster, Pa., Groff attended Penn Manor High School, where he played varsity soccer, basketball and baseball. He also is an avid golfer and a student of the game.

Groff is married to the former Chris Binnie, a 1989 Allegheny graduate.