Dave Pezzino was named the head coach of men’s golf at the University of Connecticut on August 24, 2007. Pezzino comes to UConn after spending the last year as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois and 11 previous seasons as a head coach at the collegiate level.

“We are absolutely thrilled to announce the hiring of Dave as our new golf coach,” said Hathaway. “He is a first class individual who is well-respected throughout the golf coaching and teaching community. His experiences as a college coach, recruiter and fund-raiser are going to make him a perfect fit with our department and the University. As importantly, his commitment to academic excellence is something we all share and look forward to the continuation of that standard within our program.”

“I am grateful and incredibly excited for the opportunity to lead the University of Connecticut golf program,” said Pezzino. “I see this program as a diamond in the rough and am thankful to Jeff Hathaway for the chance to represent UConn at the highest level on the course, in the classroom and in the community. I am especially excited to bring my wife and boys to a wonderful area of the country and look forward to my family and I being a part of the UConn Athletics family for a long time to come. I would also like to thank Mike Small and the great people at Illinois for their help and friendship over the past year.”

“All of us here at Illinois are very happy for Dave as he gets the chance to be a Division I Head Men’s Coach,” said University of Illinois eighth-year head coach and 2006 PGA Professional Player of the Year Mike Small. “He represented Illinois very well and did a fine job for us. We wish him the best of luck at Connecticut.”

Pezzino (pronounced Pezz-EENO) spent seven years, from August of 1999 to May of 2006, at Florida International as the head coach of the women’s golf program. He led FIU to four tournament victories and ten individual titles during his tenure and coached ten All-Sun Belt Conference selections, including 2001 NGCA All-American Michelle Simpson. He had three student-athletes earn Academic All-American recognition and five former team members that are currently playing professionally.

During his time at Florida International, Pezzino also worked at the Jim McLean Golf School at Doral Golf Resort, one of the premier golf teaching facilities in the world. He earned the status of master instructor, one of few instructors in the country to reach that level for McLean.

“Dave Pezzino did an outstanding job working for me at Doral,” said McLean. “He has a keen interest in the development of young people and will do a great job for the University of Connecticut golf program.”

Pezzino played his collegiate golf at St. Thomas University in Miami, where he became a student-head coach during his senior year of 1996-97. Upon graduation, he continued to serve as the head men’s coach at St. Thomas until August of 1999. He led St. Thomas to consecutive NAIA National Championship appearances in 1998 and 1999, and was named Florida Sun Conference Coach of the Year in ’98, leading the squad to the conference title. He coached six individuals to all-conference honors during his tenure.

Pezzino has worked with three of Golf Digest’s Top 100 Instructors, and five of his former student-athletes are now golf professionals playing on various tours. His golf background also includes conducting junior golf clinics for Miami-Dade County and working for the South Florida PGA Section as a Rules Official.

Pezzino was born on 3/22/72 in North Haven, Conn. and spent seven years living in Connecticut during his adolescent years. He attended Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, N.J. while living in Mahwah, N.J.. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sports administration from St. Thomas in 1997.

Dave and his wife, Kristy were married in 1998. They are the parents of 3-year-old twins, Joseph and Matthew, born 2/26/04.