Robert Ruiz, Westmont's director of athletics, has announced the hiring of Leo Maes as the next head coach for Westmont Men's and Women's Golf.
"We are very excited to welcome Leo to the Westmont community," said Ruiz. "He brings a well-rounded track record of success on and off the course. His passion for teaching, attention to detail, and vision for our golf program really stood out in the hiring process."
Maes comes to Westmont from Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona where he served as head coach during the past year. Previously, he was the head coach for four years at Glendale Community College and three years as an assistant at Mesa Community College.
Asked what he will bring to the Westmont golf programs, Maes responded, "Focusing on faith, first, to build a strong foundation. Secondly, developing daily habits that stack up over time to grow and build something memorable. Lastly, the competition aspect needs to be deeply rooted in why we're here and our goals so we can go out and compete at the highest level."
Maes will be looking to, "Build upon the past four or five years to ensure we compete at the Division II level. This will require dedication from everyone - faculty, staff, myself and players – as well as determination to excel in the classroom and on the golf course, and having the desire to be the best we can as a person and an athlete."
In three of his five years as a head coach, Maes' teams have qualified for the NJCAA Division II National Championships, finishing as high as third place. He has coached four individual golfers to top-10 finishes in the national championship including the 2023 national champion, the fourth-place finisher in 2022 and the 2021 national runner-up. In 2021, Maes was named the NJCAA Division II West Region Coach of the Year.
While an assistant coach at Mesa, Maes helped lead the Thunderbirds to an NJCAA Division II National Championship.
"I want the student-athletes and parents to know that they can rely on me on and off the golf course," expressed Maes. "I’m here to assist in the growth of their golf game and also to help them grow in their faith and grow academically, and to encourage them to reach their full potential."
"I believe that Leo has the right skill set and vision to move our golf program into the competitive ranks of NCAA Division II," said Ruiz. "Ultimately, we look forward to the continued growth and development in our golf program on and off the course under Leo's leadership."
