Aug. 10, 2005
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Steve Colnitis, a member of two BIG EAST Conference championship teams and two NCAA Central Regional qualifying squads at Notre Dame from 2001-05, has been named assistant men’s golf coach for the Irish, head coach Jim Kubinski announced Wednesday. Colnitis (pronounced coal-NIGHT-iss) will aid in many of the day-to-day operations of the men’s golf program, including recruiting, practice planning and travel scheduling.
“Steve has a tremendous work ethic and a great commitment to our program,” Kubinski said. “Those qualities, combined with his academic record, golf background and great energy and enthusiasm, make him an outstanding addition to what we’re building. Steve is certainly well respected by each member of our team and I couldn’t be happier to have him on board. We have a chance to achieve many exciting goals this season and the comfort level amongst our players in hiring Steve has been apparent immediately. We’re all looking forward to a winning season and Steve will play a significant role in everything we’re doing.”
“I am very excited for the opportunity to remain a part of the Notre Dame community,” Colnitis said. “I have had the pleasure of seeing our team improve drastically during my playing career and I am pleased to say that we will have one of the strongest teams we have ever had this year. Our team has a great chance to really perform this year and I am thrilled to have the chance to continue being a part of our team’s success.”
Colnitis joins the Irish coaching staff following a four-year career on the Notre Dame men’s golf team, earning a pair of monograms along the way. He competed in 13 tournaments during his career, posting a 77.86 stroke average, and his best finish was a tie for 17th place in a dual match against 11th-ranked TCU in April 2005. He also registered a 20th-place finish at the BIG EAST Championship as a freshman in 2002. This past season, Colnitis served as a tri-captain for the Irish, helping Notre Dame earn its second consecutive BIG EAST title and a return trip to the NCAA Central Regional. There, the Irish wound up a mere two strokes shy of advancing to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1966.
Colnitis graduated from Notre Dame in May, earning his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Mendoza College of Business. He also garnered Dean’s List honors during the fall 2004 semester. A native of Baldwin, Md., the 22-year-old Colnitis now resides in South Bend.
Colnitis has continued a trend of former student-athletes and managers returning to Notre Dame to work in its athletic department, which now features no fewer than 28 monogram winners.
Twelve of those are coaches: head women’s cross country coach Tim Connelly (’83) and head women’s swimming and diving coach Carrie Nixon (’02), as well as assistants Steve Colnitis (’05, men’s golf), Michelle Dasso (’01, women’s tennis), Kris McCleary Ganeff (’99, softball), Michael Haywood (’87, football), Lizzy Lemire (’01, softball), Alissa Moser (’02, women’s lacrosse), Andy Slaggert (’89, hockey), Coquese Washington (’92, women’s basketball), plus men’s basketball coordinator of basketball operations Martin Inglesby (’01) and football director of personnel development Ron Powlus (’98).
Both of Notre Dame’s deputy directors of athletics – Missy Conboy (’82) and Stan Wilcox (’81) – are former Irish basketball players, while three other monogram winners – associate athletic director Tom Nevala (’90, manager) and assistant athletic directors Brian Boulac (’63, football) and Jim Fraleigh (’88, manager), the executive director of the Monogram Club – also are on Notre Dame’s senior athletics staff. Other monogram winners who are full-time employees in the department are coordinator of athletic compliance information Allen Greene (’99, baseball), assistant equipment manager Matt Kerls (’04, manager), football coordinator of player personnel development David Peloquin (’03, manager), special assistant to the senior associate athletic director for development Dave Poulin (’82, hockey), and head football equipment manager Henry Scroope (’97, manager). Four others – Amy Mason (’04, manager; summer camps intern), Harold Swanagan (’02, men’s basketball; strength and conditioning), Kate Tulisiak (’05, women’s soccer; adidas), and Greg Weber (’02, manager; camps and facilities) – are athletics interns.
Additionally, former men’s lacrosse player Adam Sargent (’99) is an advisor for the department of academic services for student-athletes and former women’s basketball player Sara Liebscher (’91) is an assistant director for development in athletics advancement.
— ND —