Rob Shutte Named Northeast Region Golf Coach of the Year
Jun 09 | Men's Golf
Honor caps a record-setting season for the men's golf program
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers men's golf head coach Rob Shutte has been named the 2026 NCAA Division I Golf Pride Grips Northeast Region Coach of the Year, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced.
Shutte is one of six regional coaches honored nationally. The others are Bowen Sargent of Virginia (East), Nick Clinard of Auburn (Southeast), Ryan Blagg of Louisville (Midwest), Brad McMakin of Arkansas (Central) and Jim Anderson of Arizona (West). Sargent was also named the 2026 NCAA Division I Dave Williams National Coach of the Year, presented by Golf Pride Grips.
The award recognizes a season that saw Rutgers set program records and reach new milestones. The Scarlet Knights posted a fourth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships, the best in program history, and recorded their most PING All-Region honorees and most Big Ten Players of the Week while hosting a deep slate of events across the region. Lucas Politano became the first freshman under Shutte to qualify for the NCAA Regionals.
"This is really a team award," Shutte said. "Anytime a program has success, the recognition goes to the coaches, but it's a reflection of our guys, Coach Spraggs and our entire support staff. It's nice to be recognized a couple of times now. When you get that kind of feedback that you're doing things the right way, it's motivating to keep building on it."
Shutte pointed to the trajectory of the program as the foundation for the honor.
"The program is so healthy right now," he said. "You look at everything we've done — records with PING All-Region honors, the most Big Ten Players of the Week, hosting so many events and an administration that truly supports men's golf. There's never been a better time to represent Rutgers, this athletic department and this university. I appreciate the opportunity to lead it. There's no better time to be a part of Rutgers Athletics than right now — get on board."
