Bio

The Ferris State University men's and women's golf programs will have an alum leading the way as the Bulldogs announced the hire of Sam Stark as the school's new head coach prior to the 2021-22 campaign.

Stark, who competed for the Bulldogs from 2010-15, had most recently spent the previous two seasons as the head coach at NCAA Division II Coker University in Hartsville, S.C. He took over both the FSU men's and women's golf programs.

"It's so exciting to have Sam coming back to Ferris State and we believe he'll do an outstanding job of continuing the great tradition of collegiate men's and women's golf at Ferris State," said FSU Senior Associate Athletics Director Sara Higley, who chaired the search committee. "He not only has established himself as a successful head coach on the Division II level, but he also brings a great familiarity with our program, the university and the community. We're confident he's the perfect fit to lead both programs into the future."

Prior to taking over as the head coach at Coker University in 2019, Stark served as the head coach at fellow D2 member Alderson Broaddus University in West Virginia from 2017-19. He earned his coaching start as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Indianapolis from 2015-17 after a highly successful collegiate career at FSU.

"I want to recognize the work done by Sara Higley, as search committee chair, and the rest of our search committee members for their diligence in working through what was a very competitive field of finalists," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "Sam's interview and presentation was exceptional and with his Division II head coaching experience and his Ferris State roots, it made for an ideal alignment for our golf programs moving forward.  

"I would certainly be remiss if I did not recognize and thank assistant coach Kylee Sullivan for an outstanding job in leading both of our programs in an interim head coach capacity since last fall, including helping our men's team to a conference championship this spring. Her efforts kept our programs moving forward in a positive manner during an untimely and difficult transition. We thank her for the good work and for her commitment to current student-athletes," he added.

While at Coker University, Stark guided the school's men's golf team to its first tournament championship since 2017 by winning the CIU Invitational this past spring. Meanwhile, the women's golf team posted the eighth-best grade point average in the country with a 3.87 figure in 2019-20 with standouts Alicia Fajardo, Jordan White and Katie Smith garnering Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-America Scholar accolades. His coaching efforts helped Fajardo post the lowest single-season scoring average in school history while notching both the lowest 18 and 36 hole totals in program history en route to all-conference kudos. This past spring, he also successfully conducted and hosted the six-team Coker Spring Invitational.

"It is truly an honor to be back home at Ferris State," said Stark. "The history of these golf programs is unmatched within the Midwest Region and I can't wait to get to work with both teams of hard working Bulldogs. I want to thank President Dr. David Eisler, Perk Weisenburger and Sara Higley for the opportunity and I'd also like to thank all of my former teammates and mentors from Ferris, especially former coach Mike Mignano, who encouraged me to get a start in coaching. To see my career come full circle back to the place where I learned an immense amount in the classroom, on the golf course, and in the Big Rapids community means the world to me.

"Our teams will play with tremendous pride, preparation, and purpose, and we look forward to making a massive impact within the local community," the added. "When you combine the vast educational opportunities and degree programs at FSU with the extensive player development potential in place at both Katke Golf Course and the Janke Learning Center, the future of the Bulldog golf programs is limitless. I am so excited for the chance to begin working with both teams, and to make my alma mater proud. Go Bulldogs!"

Before moving to Coker, Stark was the head coach for three years at Alderson Broaddus University in Philippi, W.Va. Under his leadership, both the men's and women's squads flourished in the classroom while also being competitive on the course. His men's squad posted a 3.2 team grade point average over his three-year tenure while the women's team maintained a 3.52 team grade point average over his three seasons at the helm.

On the course, Stark helped the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) member post the school's first respective team wins in school history and his 2018-19 women's squad recorded the program's lowest scoring average ever. The women's team captured the 2018 Ohio Valley Fall Invitational while the men's team finished first at the 2018 Battle at the Beach tournament. Three of Stark's female competitors garnered WGCA All-America Scholar laurels while men's golfer Seth Vannoy was the first individual champion in school history and earned Srixon All-America Scholar recognition. With Stark at the helm, the women's team also posted the eighth-best GPA in the country in 2018-19 and he helped the program notch both the lowest individual 18-hole round in school history along with the lowest individual scoring average.

Before taking over at Alderson-Broaddus, Stark was the graduate assistant coach at Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) member Indianapolis from 2015-17. While with the Greyhounds, he helped guide the program to seven tournament titles and a pair of runner-up GLVC Championship finishes. The squad compiled a total of five Srixon All-America Scholars and he oversaw academic improvement, which helped UIndy move from a 3.18 team GPA to a 3.56 GPA in two years. The program also garnered 2016-17 Division II President's Special Recognition for a high grade point average.

During his time at Indianapolis, Stark helped mentor the Greyhounds to a pair of NCAA Super Regional appearances and played a role in the development of Graham McAree, who earned GLVC Player of the Year honors and was a two-time all-region choice along with a first-team All-American in 2016.

Stark played collegiate golf for the Bulldogs and was a member of FSU's 2010 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship team. He also played a role in FSU earning the 2013-14 Division II Team Academic National Championship. During the 2012-13 campaign, he was awarded FSU's prestigious Matt Pinter Leadership Award. As a collegian, he was active in FSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), including serving as Vice President and spearheaded an effort that raised significant funds for the Bulldogs' SAAC organization.  Overall, he posted four career top-15 individual tournament finishes and was the team's Bulldog Award recipient in 2014. Additionally, he garnered Dean's List recognition at Ferris State and was a two-time President's Award winner for holding the squad's highest individual GPA along with being a two-time Cleveland/Srixon All-America Scholar and a three-time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team member.

Stark holds a bachelor's degree in secondary education with concentrations in both English and history from FSU along with a master's degree in business administration with a concentration in organizational leadership from the University of Indianapolis. The four-time Michigan Open Golf Championships qualifier has also twice qualified for the Michigan Amateur in addition to qualifying for the West Virginia Open, South Carolina Amateur and the US Amateur Public Links in his golf playing career.

The Ferris State University men's and women's golf programs both have a long history of success. This past spring marked the 18th-straight year in which the Bulldogs have had representation in the NCAA Men's Golf Tournament, which ranks as one of the longest active stretches in the country. The Bulldogs captured the 2021 GLIAC Men's Golf Championship and also finished fifth overall in the women's field at this spring's conference championships.