Dartmouth, Mass. -- It's the end of an historic era on the links for the UMass Dartmouth golf program, as Head Coach Joel Baptista '95 is retiring after serving for 14 years in that position at the conclusion of the current academic year.
Since taking the reins as the Corsairs' mentor in 2006, Baptista has guided his alma mater to excellence both on and off the course, as UMass Dartmouth captured the Great Northeast Athletic Conference crown during his fifth campaign in 2010 and competed in the NCAA Division III Championships for the first time in 33 years in the spring of 2011. The Corsairs have earned league runner-up honors on three other occasions (the last coming in 2018) while placing third seven other times during his tenure.
Team success has also come with many individual student-athlete accolades for Baptista, who has mentored numerous all-regional and all-conference players including Tyler Kett '11 (Ping All-Northeast Region) and Tom Sheran '19 (GNAC Player of the Year). Most recently, Jackson Mitchell '19 was honored as the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association's Guy Tedesco Award recipient in 2018, and last fall UMass Dartmouth earned its second GNAC Team Sportsmanship Award in four years. In the classroom, numerous Corsairs have earned GNAC all-academic honors while receiving additional recognition nationally from the Golf Coaches Association of America.
In 2016, Joel received NEIGA'S prestigious Gordon McCullough Award which recognizes an individual that personifies management, sportsmanship, ethics, and comradeship of fellow coaches, demonstrating good coaching skills on and off the golf course and contributing to the community on behalf of collegiate golf. Off the course, both he and his student-athletes have tirelessly given back to the community by participating in numerous activities throughout the South Coast, and last spring Baptista presented a forum on mental health & suicide prevention awareness during the two day Lafrance Hospitality Invitational hosted at the Allendale Country Club.
"It's a bittersweet decision, as UMass Dartmouth and the golf program have been a huge part of my life the past 14 years, but at this stage, it's the best decision for myself and my family.” Baptista said of his retirement. “I'll be forever grateful for the opportunity to lead the team and work alongside an outstanding athletics department staff.
“First and foremost, I'd like to thank my family for their understanding, support and allowing me to do something I am passionate about,” Baptista continued. “None of this would have been possible, without my assistant coach Ed Craig, who has been by my side for all 14 seasons. He made my job easier and was a tremendous asset to the squad and University. Finally, to my players, past and present, thank you for the memories. Your commitment on the golf course and in the classroom have led to numerous team and individual accomplishments and will forever be a part of the history and legacy of Corsair golf."
“Saying thank you to Joel Baptista for everything he has done not only for our golf program, but for our entire Corsair athletics community, is something we can never do enough,” UMass Dartmouth Director of Athletics Amanda Van Voorhis said of Baptista's retirement. “He has not only been an outstanding mentor to countless young men over the last 14 years, he has been an ambassador for his alma mater in so many facets. I know the Corsair athletic family joins me in wishing Joel and his family nothing but the very best.”
