PGA professional Kevin Kurcoba has been named the new head golf at Tompkins Cortland Community College. Kurcoba takes over the program for the 2024 season.

After a playing career that started at Elmira Free Academy and included four years as the top golfer at Division I Niagara University as well as winning multiple PGA sanctioned events, Kurcoba has nearly 30 years of experience as a professional in the field. He worked at several courses in Florida and New York, and most recently was the Head Golf Professional at two course in New York State's Southern Tier.

"Coach Kurcoba brings such a wealth of experience to our program," said Mick McDaniel, Director of Athletics and Recreation at Tompkins Cortland. "As a PGA professional and former student-athlete, we are excited about how his teaching skills, personal competition, and mental training will transform Panther Golf."

"The opportunity to help grow a program and to develop young golfers in all aspects of the game is the primary reason I wanted this position," said Kurcoba. As someone that grew up in the region and currently is a member of the Central New York PGA, Kurboca feels like TC3 is a good fit. "I have always had a passion to become a college golf coach. I feel my knowledge, experience and teaching/mentoring skills will fit nicely in the coaching arena. That is why I jumped at the opportunity to lead the TC3 golf program moving into the future."

Kurcoba takes over a program with a rich history of success, including two individual national champions (Kris Boyes in 2008 and Dan Lapp in 2018). He says his first goal this year is to help all his players become the best golfers they can possibly be while providing knowledge and experience in areas of course management, proper etiquette, and rules of the game. He says while learning about the game, his golfers will be learning valuable life lessons. "I have always said that the lessons learned through the game of golf will help prepare a person for the rest of their life," he said. "Golf teaches you to deal with adversity, how to conduct yourself properly, and how to always remain humble in success and remain respectful in defeat."