Jeff Pawlowski '91 Elevated to Head Coach of JCU Men's Golf

6/25/2024 9:36:00 AM | By: JCUSID

Jeff Pawlowski ‘91 has been elevated to the head job after eight seasons as Mike Moran's right hand man.

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS – Following in the footsteps of a legendary coach can be difficult, but the Blue Streaks have just the man for the job.

Following the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign, Mike Moran announced his retirement as head coach of the John Carroll Men's Golf program. His reign lasted 32 years as he oversaw a very successful era for the program.

His successor is also a true Man of Carroll. Following eight seasons as an assistant coach, Jeff Pawlowski '91 has been selected as the next head coach of JCU Men's Golf.

"I am excited to welcome Jeff as our head men's golf coach. I believe that his expertise in the game combined with his deep rooted ties to our university and its mission make him the ideal candidate, said Director of Athletics Brian Polian '97. "I have no doubt that he will continue to grow the rich tradition of Blue Streak golf and help develop the young men on our roster, on and off the course."

Pawlowski is just the program's third leader since 1980.

"I appreciate Brian giving me the opportunity to follow Coach Baab and Coach Moran in adding golf team championships," Pawlowski said. "John Carroll Men's Golf has one of the strongest histories within our athletic department. With the transition to the NCAC ahead in 2025, Coach Smith and I look forward to leading a fantastic group of student-athletes. The future is very bright."

For the last eight seasons, Pawlowski served as an assistant coach under Moran. Pawlowski has helped significantly with operations, including aiding with the planning of home tournaments, running the team's social media, helping with recruiting, and much more behind the scenes.

In short, Pawlowski has served as Moran's right-hand-man for almost a decade, proving to be a vital part of the program's operation. The transition into the head role should be a smooth one for the veteran coach.

In addition, Pawlowski is a veteran golfer himself. The Chicago native was a four-year member of the Men's Golf program at John Carroll from 1987-91. The Blue Streaks won two PAC (Presidents Athletic Conference) Championships in 1988 and 1989, and captured the OAC Championship during the school's first year in the Ohio Athletic Conference in the 1989-90 school year. The Blue Streaks also made the program's first appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament that year, finishing in 11th at the national championships.

Pawlowski has remained an avid golfer since graduating from JCU in 1991 with his degree in Communications. After attaining his JCU degree, he moved back to the Chicago area, where he was a PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Kemper Lakes Golf Course, Mt. Prospect Golf Club, and Arlington Heights Golf Mart until 1995. From 1996 through 2004, along with his father and brother, Pawlowski owned two retail golf shops in the Chicagoland suburbs. And just this past weekend, Pawlowski participated in the Member/Member Tournament at the Mayfield Sand Ridge Club.

As a coach, Pawlowski has helped to guide the Blue & Gold back to the top echelon of the OAC. John Carroll won the 2022 OAC Championship, the program's first postseason conference crown since 1997. With the crown, the Blue Streaks clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 25 years, as well. This past season, JCU finished just one stroke off of the conference title in a thrilling finish. The Blue Streaks also tabbed second-place finishes in 2021 and 2018.

Pawlowski is thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the program and has high hopes for JCU Men's Golf in the years to come.

"I inherit a program that is in great shape, but we need to remain focused on growth," said Pawlowski. "Recruiting competitive players on a Regional and National level will be our focus. Additionally, there is a need to create an on campus practice facility if we expect to keep pace with top programs in the NCAC and Division III in the future."

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