California University of Pennsylvania will add varsity men's and women's golf teams for the 2005-06 academic year, announced president Angelo Armenti Jr.
California University, which currently sponsors 16 varsity sports teams as members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and NCAA Division II, will add the golf teams in conjunction with the start of the university's professional golf management program.
Thomas Pucci, athletic director, is working with university faculty member Jim Hefti, a Professional Golfers Association of America member and the director of the school's professional golf management program, in the search for a full-time head coach.
Hefti will also coordinate the recruitment of student-athletes and assist in the development of the 2005-06 schedules for both teams until a head coach is selected.
Men's golf returns as a varsity sport at California University after a 22-year absence.
Under the direction of retired head coach and health and physical education professor Floyd Shuler, the Vulcans men's golf team won two Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference championships in 1980 and 1982.
The Vulcans hosted the 1983 NCAA Division II National Golf Championships and finished a school-best eighth nationally. California University men's golf placed 15th nationally in 1979, ninth in 1980, and tied for 11th in 1981.
One of many great Vulcans golfers from the 1980s was Ed Vietmeier, who was inducted into California University's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. He finished 29th overall when the Vulcans played host to the 1983 Nationals and placed a personal-best ninth at the 1982. As a freshman in 1980, Vietmeier placed 31st at the 1980 Nationals. He was a two-time all-conference selection and All-American.
Rocco Mediate, a member of the PGA who is originally from Greensburg, competed at California University during the 1981-82 season before transferring to Florida Southern University. He is a five-time PGA tour champion, having won the 1991 Doral-Ryder Open, the 1993 Kmart Greater Greensboro Open, the 1999 Phoenix Open, and the 2002 Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic.
California University fourth-year head football coach John Luckhardt has announced the Vulcans' recruiting class for the 2005 season.
The Vulcans begin spring drills on March 22, which will culminate in the spring scrimmage on April 16 at Adamson Stadium. California University opens the 2005 season by hosting Fairmont State College (West Virginia) on Aug. 27.
In alphabetical order, California University's newcomers to the football program include: Trey Allen, a 6-0, 165-pound freshman defensive back from McKeesport and McKeesport High School; Juan Butler, a 6-3, 190-pound freshman defensive back also from McKeesport High School; Dennis Cole, 5-7, 158-pound running back from Canonsburg and Canon-McMillan High School; A.B. Conley, a 6-4, 245-pound freshman outside linebacker from Virginia Beach, Va., and F.W. Cox High School/Dodge City Junior College. (Kansas); Jon D'Alessandro, a 6-0, 255-pound freshman defensive lineman from Pittsburgh and Woodland Hills High School; Nate Forse, a 6-4, 220-pound junior wide receiver from Uniontown and Laurel Highlands High School who transferred from West Virginia University; Brandon Hickel, a 5-11, 225-pound sophomore inside linebacker from Wakeeney, Kan, and Wakeeney High School/Dodge City Junior College (Kansas); Cecil Howard, a 6-3, 230-pound junior quarterback/receiver from McKeesport and McKeesport High School who is a transfer from Syracuse University; Perry Ivery, a 5-10, 170-pound freshman wide receiver from Westland and Fort Cherry High School; Terrence Johnson , a 5-10, 170-pound freshman defensive back from Pittsburgh and Woodland Hills High School; Mason Marsh, a 6-1, 195-pound freshman inside linebacker from Oil City and Oil City High School; Matt McClellan, a 5-11, 205-pound freshman linebacker from McKeesport and McKeesport High School; Jermaine Moye, a 6-3 , 200-pound sophomore defensive back from Rochester and Rochester High School is a transfer from West Virginia University; Josh Stewart Jr., a 6-7, 315-pound junior offensive lineman from Morgantown, W.Va., and Morgantown High School who transferred from West Virginia University; and Travis Williams, a 6-3, 205-pound freshman defensive back from Aliquippa and Aliquippa High School.
"We are extremely excited about the players who will join the program for the 2005 season," said Luckhardt, who has 153 collegiate coaching victories including a 16-16 mark after three years at California University. "We're adding some of the best players from the WPIAL, and they'll be strong contributors as we build a championship program at Cal."
Ten of the 15 recruits are defensive players. Last year, the Vulcans yielded an average of 25.9 points and 326 offensive yards per game while the offense scored a school-record 365 points (36.5 ppg) and averaged 446 offensive yards per game.
