Moon Township, Pa. – Jerry Stone announced Wednesday that he will retire as head coach of the RMU men's golf program effective June 1, 2023.
"It's been both a pleasure and an honor to serve as head coach of the golf programs at RMU, but the time is right to step away," Stone said. "I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at the University, forming bonds with the student-athletes, coaches and staff within the department and the camaraderie that comes with those relationships. I'm equally proud of the alumni of both the men's and women's programs that have gone on to have success in life after their time as student-athletes at RMU."
Stone, a native of Lakeland, Fla., completed his 21st full season with the Colonials in 2022-23 and wraps up his career as one of the longest tenured coaches in RMU Department of Athletics history. Stone guided the Colonials to 23 tournament wins while head coach at RMU as well a pair of Northeast Conference (NEC) men's golf championships (2015, 2019) and subsequent bids to the NCAA Tournament.
"In addition to the student-athletes that have come through and made the golf programs at RMU what they are with all of their success both on the course and in the classroom, I'm thankful for all the relationships I've made through competition, from opposing coaches, student-athletes from other institutions and conference officials," Stone said. "We all pushed and competed to make each other better."
Named NEC Coach of the Year a total of five times, Stone earned the men's honor four times (2003, 2010, 2015, 2019) while being tabbed the 2010 NEC Women's Golf Coach of the Year. He was also named the 2013 Tri-State PGA of America Teacher of the Year.
"Coach Stone is leaving an incredible legacy at Robert Morris University," RMU Vice President and Director of Athletics
Chris King '94 said. "Having dedicated most of his professional career to RMU, Coach Stone has left a significant and lasting impact on both our athletics department and the men's golf program. We thank him for his tremendous contributions to the golf program and are thankful for all that Coach Stone has contributed to RMU."
Each of the 23 tournament victories for RMU under Stone came in an 11-year stretch from 2009 to 2020. During both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, the Colonials tied a school record with four tournament crowns, capped by the program's first automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 thanks to winning the NEC Championships.
The 2014-15 season is arguably the greatest golf season in program history. In addition to claiming the NEC crown and playing in the NCAA New Haven Regional, the Colonials established a school record with a four-player stroke average of 296.7 in 25 rounds, one of just four times in program history RMU has finished under 300. The Colonials posted a school record 21 finishes in the top 10 that year as well as 18 rounds under par, which stood as the school mark until the 2018-19 campaign.
Stone's fingerprints are also all over the program for individual accomplishments. Three of his former golfers were named NEC Player of the Year, including C.G. Mercatoris (2011), Ryan Prokay (2015) and Max Palmer (2019). Palmer was also named the 2017 NEC Rookie of the Year.
Mercatoris was the first golfer in program history to receive an invitation to play in the NCAA Championships, earning the opportunity in 2011 after medalist honors at the NEC Championships. He owns the RMU single-season record for scoring average at 72.8 during the 2010-11 season, while in the career record book he ranks fourth at 74.67 strokes per round. Prokay, meanwhile, was the recipient of the 2013 Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) David Toms Award, which is given annually to one men's collegiate golfer who has overcome adversity to achieve collegiate excellence.
On the women's side, Stone tutored Jenna Rinker, who was selected as the 2010 NEC Rookie of the Year, as well as Halley Morell, the 2014 NEC Player of the Year. In addition to the major awards, a total of 25 student-athletes earned all-conference honors during Stone's tenure at RMU.
RMU will begin a national search to identify its next head men's golf coach.
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