UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Storied Penn State men's golf head coach Greg Nye has announced his retirement following the conclusion of his 31st season as the leader of the Nittany Lions. The longest-tenured coach in Penn State men's golf history, Nye completes a 39-year head coaching career after guiding the Nittany Lions to national prominence and bolstering the program's reputation as a perennial power in Northeastern collegiate golf.
"I have so many fantastic memories and stories with my teams and fellow coaches," said Nye. "The centennial celebration of Penn State golf last fall definitely created a wonderful setting for us all to share these memories and create a few more. I am so grateful for the efforts of many who have made our program shine through the years in competition, and in the classroom. I believe we did it all the right way and I am very proud of all we achieved. The program has been left on good footing for new leadership. I wish nothing but success for the current team and coaching staff going forward."
Highlights of Nye's highly-respected 31-year Penn State career include leading the Nittany Lions to five NCAA Finals appearances, 22 NCAA Regional team appearances, and twice qualifying individuals. This past April, he recorded a milestone 75 tournament championships in winning the 2023 Rutherford Intercollegiate. In his three decades coaching at Penn State, he was named the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Regional Coach of the Year 11 times.
"Congratulations to Greg Nye on his retirement as his storied career comes to a close after 31 years at Penn State," said Penn State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "Greg elevated the Penn State men's golf program to a Northeastern power while leading with integrity, class, and always valuing a true student-athlete experience. He has made a profound impact in the lives of so many. We wish Greg and his family nothing but the best in retirement."
Nye has tutored 89 NCAA All-Region players, five Mid-Atlantic Region Players of the Year, 17 All-Big Ten selections and 10 NCAA All-Americans.
Nye prioritized developing true student-athletes throughout his tenure in Happy Valley, having coached 39 GCAA All-America Scholars, 143 Academic All-Big Ten honorees and 21 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars.
In Nye's third year at Penn State, the Nittany Lions became the first Northeastern or Mid-Atlantic team to advance to the NCAA Finals since the regional format was established nine years earlier.
In 2004, Nye's Nittany Lions finished second in the NCAA East Regional, besting 25 teams, seven of which were ranked in the nation's top 15. The Nittany Lions went on to finish 15th among the 30-team field at the NCAA Finals, which was Penn State's best team finish in program history.
The Nittany Lions also qualified for the NCAA Finals in 2008, 2010 and 2017.
Before becoming head coach of the Nittany Lion men's golf program, Nye served for eight years as head coach of the Bowling Green State University men's and women's golf teams. Attracted to Penn State and its membership in the Big Ten Conference, the 1987 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year began his career in Happy Valley in August 1992.
A 1979 graduate of the College of Wooster (Ohio), Nye earned All-America honors each of his four years. Nye and his teammates captured the first-ever NCAA Division III Golf Championship in 1975. He is a member of the College of Wooster's Athletic Hall of Fame.
