Wakeling Steps Down as Associate Head Coach of Men’s Golf
11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
KENT, Ohio – Director of Golf/Head Men's Golf Coach Herb Page has announced that Associate Head Coach Rob Wakeling has stepped down to pursue other opportunities.
Wakeling was a four-year letter winner for Kent State (1989-93) and helped lead the storied program to three NCAA Championship appearances as a student-athlete. The two-time All-Mid-American Conference performer guided his squads to a pair of MAC Championships and a remarkable 16 team titles in his four years. The team also captured the program's first-ever NCAA Regional title.
"It's been a great time and I can't begin to tell you how important Kent State has been to me and my entire family," Wakeling said. "As an alumnus, I am so proud of what we have accomplished here and I look forward to staying close to the program and being involved in any way that I can. While I will miss collegiate golf, this job is a tremendous opportunity for my family and I get to remain in the area. I will also still be around the program."
Page hired Wakeling on his staff as the associate head coach for men's and women's golf in 2009. Since his return, the men's golf program captured six consecutive Mid-American Conference titles between 2009-2014 and won a share of the 2010 NCAA East Regional. Wakeling also guided the Golden Flashes to Top-20 finishes at the NCAA National Championship three consecutive seasons (2010-12). In 2012, the Golden Flashes advanced in match play at the NCAA Championship at Riviera Golf Club and finished tied for fifth overall nationally.
"It's obvious the run we had with Rob on our staff is unprecedented," Page said. "The MAC Championship and our NCAA success has been fabulous, but most importantly, Rob was one of my players. He played for me for four years and coached with me for eight. There's not a better Kent State grad out there. We are going to miss him as a coach, but we are also happy that he will be nearby and still have an impact on our program. I am very happy for him and his family and thrilled that he has agreed to assist in the transition as well as going forward."
A golf instructor for more than 16 years, the Stow, Ohio native worked for Macgregor Golf and Top-Flite Ben Hogan Golf before joining the coaching ranks at Walsh Jesuit. A former Ohio Public Links and three-time Summit County Amateur champion, Wakeling played professionally on various mini tours throughout the United States and South Africa after graduating from Kent State with his bachelor's degree in 1994. He was also recently inducted into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.
