Women's Golf | 8/28/2023 8:00:00 AM
MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Mark Leroux takes over the helm of the Barry University women's golf program this fall after a storied career with the Missouri Tigers, director of athletics Dr. Scott Smith announced today.
"Coach Leroux is a proven winner who is committed to excellence," Smith said. "He brings a wealth of experience to our women's golf program and we are excited to see where he takes the BarryU women's golf team."
Over 18 years in Columbia, Leroux led the Tigers' men's team to 38 team victories and 15 NCAA Tournament bids. Including seven years at Austin Peay, he has 54 career wins.
"I want to start by thanking Dr. Smith and Barry University for this opportunity," Leroux said. "I'm looking forward to working with our women's golf team and helping these young ladies develop on the course and in the classroom."
He was the finalist for the 2013 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year after winning the Central Region Coach of the Year from the Golf Coaches Association of America. He coached several players who went on to professional careers, including Peter Malnati, Hayden Buckley, Euan Walker, Emilo Cuarteno and Rory Fransson.
TPI certified, he is a class A certified member of the PGA of America. He coached Team USA to a silver medal at the 2014 Toyota Junior World Championships.
In addition to the performance on the course, Mizzou showed success in the classroom under Leroux, as the Tigers led the Big 12 Conference with five Academic All-Big 12 selections in 2006 and 2007 and had two Academic All-Americans in 2006. The academic honors continued for Mizzou after the move to the SEC as well, as Hunter Kraus shared Top Scholar-Athlete honors as voted on by the conference coaches. Walker continued the trend, winning the SEC Scholar-Athlete for 2015-16. He and teammate Linus Lilliedahl both earned Academic All-America recognition that season.
Leroux came to Columbia after leading Austin Peay to the school's first three NCAA Regional Tournament appearances ever. He served seven seasons as head men's golf coach, and the final six leading the women's program, as well. While in Clarksville, Leroux elevated the Governors back to conference and regional prominence. He led the Govs to an Ohio Valley Conference Championship and the school's first NCAA Regional appearance in 2001. The Govs repeated both feats the next two seasons, with Leroux earning back-to-back OVC Coach-of-the-Year honors in 2002 and 2003.
At the same time, he built the Lady Govs program from scratch, going from one of the nation's worst to one of the league's best. He assumed control of the women's program when it was reinstated for the 1998-99 season after a nine-year absence, and led the women's program for each of the next six years. Leroux previously served as head golf professional at Citrus College in Azusa, Calif.
The New York native received his bachelor's degree in physical education from SUNY-Cortland. Leroux also earned a master's degree from California State University-Fullerton in physical education (pedagogy) with an emphasis in sports psychology. He was assistant PGA golf professional at Alta Vista Country Club in Placentia, Calif., from 1992-94. In 1994, he was named head golf coach at West Brunswick High School in Supply, N.C. His team won the golf championship during Leroux's one-year stay, and Leroux was named Coach of the Year.
After returning to California, Leroux again served as assistant PGA golf pro at Alta Vista, and then head pro at Citrus Community College in February 1996.
