Northwestern’s Goss earns golf coaching honor

NORMAN, Okla. — Pat Goss, director of golf and head men’s golf coach at Northwestern University, has been named winner of the Labron Harris Sr. Award in cooperation with The PGA of America and the Golf Coaches Association of America.

The Harris Award is presented to the college or high school coach and PGA professional whose support of the game through teaching, coaching and involvement in the community has helped ensure the continued growth of the golf and who represents the finest qualities the game has to offer.

“It’s a great honor to win an award based on one of the all-time great college coaches in Labron Harris,” said Goss. “He had such an impact on college golf, and in his dual role as a PGA professional helped grow the game and made it possible for so many to enjoy the game. What makes this award stand out to me is that for any individual to have a chance to give back and help grow a game that has given us so much and that we love makes it even more special. When I look at the list of previous winners, I’m humbled to be included among them.”

Now in his 17th season as Northwestern’s men’s golf coach, Goss has built the program into one of the best in the Big Ten. Named national coach of the year by Golfweek in 1997, his accomplishments at Northwestern include four Big Ten titles, 15 NCAA regional appearances and seven trips to the NCAA Championships finals. He has earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors four times and was named Eaton Golf Pride GCAA District IV Coach of the Year twice. His players have earned PING All-America honors 11 times, twice have been named Big Ten Player of the Year, 25 All-Big Ten selections and won Big Ten medalist honors on five occasions. Luke Donald won the Jack Nicklaus Award as the collegiate player of the year in 1999 when he also won the NCAA championship while playing for Goss.