HOUSTON – HCU Director of Golf and Head Men's Golf Coach
David Shuster announced his retirement on Thurdsay afternoon, ending a 19-year career at HCU that included three team NCAA Championship Tournament appearances, one individual NCAA appearance and eight conference titles since restarting the men's and women's golf programs after being hired in June of 2007.
"I have been blessed by so many over my 43 years of coaching and my 19 years with HCU. My time at HCU all came about due to an old college friend, Anthony Martin, who was managing the University Bookstore at HBU when the university was looking to make their move back to the D-I level of college sports. So, with that they needed to add several other sports and we started with our women's program in 2007, followed by the men's program in 2008. None of that could been possible without the support of my dear friend Anthony Martin, Ron Cottrell, Steve Moniaci and President of the University, Dr. Robert Sloan."
"Having this opportunity had been a dream of mine, to coach at the collegiate level, but I never thought it would be one to come true. It didn't take me long to drive into it and quickly find out just hard it could be to start back programs that had been gone for a long period of time."
"The early years were tough, but then we were able to get things in place to help us build both programs that we have today, with both men and women winning conference championships and punching their tickets to NCAA Regionals. It's been exciting to be able to work with so many great assistant coaches and student-athletes, to watch them grow, graduate and now have families of their own. Oh, what memories that will be cherished for a life time. I want to thank all who have been a part of it and part of in my life. Now, it's time to enjoy time with family and friends during retirement."
Hired in 2007, Shuster immediately put together a women's team to play during the 2007-08 season with the men's program beginning play the following year in 2008-09. Over the last 19 years, Shuster has coached three teams and one individual to the NCAA Tournament, first in 2012-13 with the men winning the America Sky Conference championship before heading to the Baton Rouge, La. Regional for the school's first NCAA Tournament automatic bid since 1988.
The next year, 2013-14, was the school's first as a member of the Southland Conference with Shuster guiding Preston Stanley to an individual bid to the NCAA Tournament. On the women's side, Shuster and the Huskies won their first SLC title and NCAA bid in 2016-17 with a trip to the Albuquerque, N.M. Regional. The women then repeated as SLC champs for the 2017-18 season, this time heading to the Austin, Texas Regional.
Since restarting the programs, the HCU men and women have combined for eight conference championships and 31 tournament titles while Shuster has earned eight conference Coach of the Year honors. HCU has produced 67 all-conference selections under Shuster's guidance while seeing 31 student-athletes recognized as academic all-conference honorees.
"Coach Shuster has been an amazing friend to the entire university and has been a fabulous leader of our golf programs," said HCU President Dr. Robert B. Sloan. "He has consistently led our men's and women's teams to championships, honors, and may points of recognition for the program and the athletes. He will be missed, but we remain grateful to the Lord for his many contributions to HCU and to the lives of countless student-athletes."
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David Shuster has been the heart and soul of HCU Golf for many years and has had many special accomplishments, including numerous conference championships," added Director of Athletics
Stan Williamson.
Current head women's golf coach
Jordan Jeffers will assume the role of Director of Golf at HCU and remain the head women's coach.
