BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin Wallace University has hired John Kapusta '87 as its new Head Women's Golf Coach. He succeeds Alyson Campbell '08 who guided the Yellow Jackets for three seasons, including two trips to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
Kapusta is no stranger to Yellow Jacket women's golf. His daughter, Rebecca '13, recently graduated as one of the most celebrated BW student-athletes in the history of the sport. A lifelong interest and passion in the sport has promted John Kapusta to become even more involved in the BW program.
"Baldwin Wallace University welcomes John to its coaching family following spending four years as a parent of one of our finest women's golfing student-athletes," said BW Director of Athletics Kris A. Diaz. "He brings a wealth of knowledge in the game of golf and a passion to continue to make our women's program one of the best in the Ohio Athletic Conference and in NCAA Division III. We feel he will be an asset to our campus community, our women's golf program and our student-athletes."
Kapusta earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from BW in 1987. Since 1972, he has worked at North American Manufacturing in a variety of positions, beginning as a machinist and currently in the area of management and the Manager of Procurement and Planning.
"I am so appreciative for the opportunity to be a part of such an elite collegiate team," said Kapusta. "As a 1987 BW graduate, I am so pleased to be affiliated with this outstanding university."
In addition to being a lifelong golfer who regularly competes in leagues, Kapusta has been involved with both his daughter and son in their golf careers at the high school level. He also has 15 years of coaching experience coaching in the sports of basketball and baseball.
"Following Rebecca's career at BW familiarized me with the operation of the program and the collegiate tournament system," said Kapusta. "During this time I have enhanced my understanding of the involvement of the coach related to the needs of the student-athlete. I also understand how to teach the game of golf and how to motivate our student-athletes to be the best they possibly can be both in the classroom and on the golf course.
I also spent a great deal of time learning the rules as they relate to the sport and in particular to the college game," said Kapusta. The past four years, while Rebecca participated at the University, I was active in providing names of potential recruits to both Coach Campbell and Coach Strickland [previous BW Coach Sean Strickland, who is now the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Pitt-Bradford (Pa.)]. I know the demands of recruiting and am ready to meet those demands head-on."
For the upcoming 2013-2014 season, Kapusta feels that BW has enough returning talent to compete with the top teams in the rugged OAC.
"I am confident that the women's golf team will continue to make BW proud with three seasoned, three-time All-OAC seniors standouts returning [Emilee Woolf, Miranda Cunningham and Rebecca Jones," said Kapusta mentioned "In addition, we have two sophomore who also were extremely competitive and have the talent and ability to help us this year. Our goal will certainly be to win the OAC championship for the third time in four years."
Kapusta already has two strong advocates in his corner in former coaches Campbell and Strickland.
"I am thrilled that John will be taking over as the new women's golf coach," said Campbell, who has moved to a new position on campus in the Admission Office. "He is passionate about BW and our women's golf program.
"His daughter was a great student-athlete and golfer and a program-changer for us the past four years," continued Campbell, who produced a 152-159-1 record, including a 63-13 slate a year ago, and OAC titles in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. "John understands the growth that our program has made over the past few years, and I am confident he will continue to build the program on a regional and national level."
"I think John is a great hire for BW Women's Golf," said Strickland who began the rebuilding process, handed it off to interim coach Wayne Schneider in the Fall of 2010 and continued with Campbell. "He was there during my first recruiting class when his daughter, Rebecca, and Brooke Hamilton [Hamilton is a two-time CAPITAL ONE Academic All-American] formed the foundation for the most successful group in BW women's golf history. He is definitely the right fit to continue to build on what Alyson has done with the program."
Kapusta began his duties on July 1, 2013.
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