Saint Francis University Names Nick Wheeler New Head Men’s Golf Coach/Immergrun Golf Pro
LORETTO, Pa. (July 5, 2007) – Saint Francis University Director of Athletics Bob Krimmel announced on Thursday that former student-athlete Nick Wheeler has been named the new head men’s golf coach/Immergrun Golf Pro, effective immediately.
Wheeler replaces long-time head coach Bob Hahn, who passed away on Mar. 5. Wheeler participated as a member of Hahn’s golf team at Saint Francis for four seasons, helping the legendary coach win the school’s first-ever Northeast Conference title in 2006.
“It is with great pleasure that I welcome Nick Wheeler as our new men’s golf coach and golf pro,” Krimmel said. “Nick has proven over the past year that his leadership and management skills are up to the challenge of this position. He played an essential role in running the entire operation during Bob Hahn’s illness, and he did an outstanding job in every aspect of the position.
Wheeler graduated from Saint Francis in May with a Bachelor of Science in Management. He competed for the Red Flash for four seasons, serving as the team’s captain for three years. He assisted in recruiting, mentored team members and assisted in scheduling tournaments. Wheeler made the Saint Francis Athletic Department Academic Honor Roll during four semesters, served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee during his senior year, and was a Student-Athlete Mentor during his junior and senior years. He was a member of the 2007 all-Northeast Conference men’s golf team, and received the university’s Franciscan Athletic Award in 2007, which is presented to a male and female student-athlete who best demonstrates the eight goals of Franciscan Higher Education.
“I’m extremely excited to have been given the opportunity to fill this position,” Wheeler said. “I look forward to being a big part of the Red Flash golf program for a number of years to come.”
Wheeler has been an Assistant Immergrun Pro Shop Manager since August 2004, where he created and implemented a new marketing plan, kept records of the shops inventory, hired, trained and supervised new staff members, and supervised the Pro Shop among other duties. He has also spent parts of the past seven years on the staff at Forest City National Golf Club in London, Ontario, Canada, where he started on the Greens Staff in 2000. He served as Second Assistant Golf Course Superintendent for two years before being promoted to Assistant Golf Course Superintendent in March 2004.
Wheeler finished sixth at this year’s Northeast Conference Championship, which was held at The Sea Trail Resort in Sunset Beach, N.C. He fired a three-round 76-76-73-225 to finish nine strokes off the pace as he led the Red Flash to a second place finish. Last summer, he shot a remarkable 13-under-par 59 at Forest City National to set the course record.
Hahn, who was the 2005-06 Northeast Conference Men’s Golf Coach-of-the-Year, was hired by former University President Father Vincent Negherbon, T.O.R. in the spring of 1970 as head men’s golf coach and Golf Pro at the Immergrun Golf Club. He was in his 37th year with the University before his passing in March.
Well respected among his peers, Hahn was inducted into the Saint Francis University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001 in recognition of his contributions and dedication to the Red Flash athletics program.