COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John’s University athletic director Bob Alpers ’82 is back at the helm of the Johnnies’ golf program. Alpers, who relinquished the position he held for 28 years in 2021 to focus on his duties as SJU’s athletic director, will once again lead the two-time defending, MIAC-champion Johnnies in 2022-23.
“I’m really excited to be back coaching our golfers,” said Alpers, who will also continue as SJU’s athletic director. “I really missed them. I’d like to thank Michael Whitlock for his time as my assistant and for his season as our head coach, and congratulate him on his expanded role at Blackberry Ridge Golf Club.
“We have a strong, veteran group returning and some exciting newcomers. I’m pleased that we will continue with our great assistant coaches, Steve Tax, and former All-MIAC performers Esten Stensrud and Charlie Stuck, as well as former All-MIAC and All-American David Schneider. I’m grateful for their dedication and commitment and can’t wait to return to the course. I’m also lucky to have the best assistant athletic director in the business, Nicci Malechato manage everything while I’m with the team.”
Alpers guided the Johnnies to back-to-back NCAA Division III championships in 2007 and 2008, 12 MIAC titles and 19 NCAA appearances. SJU finished in the top 10 at nationals 11 times (14 times in the top 15). Only one school in Division III has more appearances at the NCAA Championship during the last 20 years.
During his previous tenure as head coach, SJU produced 33 All-Americans and 47 Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Scholar All-Americans. A Johnnie earned MIAC Golf of the Year honors for the first 12 seasons of the award’s existence and 13 times overall during his tenure.
Alpers was named the 2007 Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the Year and was inducted into the GCAA Hall of Fame – the eighth from Division III – in 2010. He is a five-time GCAA Region Coach of the Year and has won MIAC Coach of the Year honors 13 times.
SJU opens the 2022-23 season Sept. 3-4 at the Augsburg Invitational held at Majestic Oaks GC in Ham Lake. The Johnnies return to the Twin Cities suburbs Sept. 10-11 for Bethel’s Minnesota Golf Classic at Pioneer Creek GC in Maple Plain before returning home for the annual SJU Fall Invitational Sept. 17-18. Gustavus Adolphus’ three-day Twin Cities Classic is Sept. 24-26 and the Johnnies go for their third consecutive conference title Oct. 1-3 at the MIAC Championships held at Bunker Hills GC in Coon Rapids.