University of Minnesota athletic director of Athletics Mark Coyle announced that men’s golf head coach Justin Smith has agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep him in Maroon and Gold through the 2027-28 season.
Smith, who is one of the most decorated players in the history of the program, was named head coach of his alma mater on June 24, 2019. Prior to being named the ninth head coach in program history, Smith was the program’s associate head coach for two seasons and was an assistant coach since September 2014.
“My family and I are incredibly grateful to Mark Coyle, Mike Wierzbicki, the entire athletic department and University for their continued support of our vision,” said Smith. “We have done some tremendous things during the past few years, but we know there are lots of areas that can improve. I’m excited to be able to continue to work alongside our tremendous coaches and support staff in order to provide the greatest experience possible for our student athletes.”
Minnesota has won three tournaments under Smith’s tutelage: the 2024 Highland Meadows Intercollegiate, the 2021 Git R Done Husker Invitational and the 2019 Macdonald Cup.
Smith has coached some of Minnesota’s best individual players in school history as well in Angus Flanagan (2017-21) and Ben Warian (2020-24). Flanagan, who was an All-American at Minnesota, won three tournaments. Warian took top honors in one event during his career.
Smith’s players excel in the classroom as well, as 24 student-athletes have been named Academic-All Big Ten.
“Justin is a terrific leader who coaches with great pride and integrity,” said Coyle. “He understands northern golf and what it takes to recruit to and coach at Minnesota. I look forward to his continued leadership and watching his team excel academically, athletically and socially.”
Smith competed for the Gophers from 2000-04 and helped Minnesota advance to the NCAA Finals three times (2001, 2002 and 2003). He helped the Gophers win Big Ten titles in 2002 and 2003 and drained the putt on the 18th hole that clinched the 2002 national championship for Minnesota. He was inducted into the ‘M’ Club Hall of Fame in 2018.
(info and stock photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
