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at Ryan T. Lee Memorial
Providence College Athletics
Providence College Announces Head Coaches For Men’s and Women’s Golf
10/31/2024 11:00:00 AM | Men's Golf, Women's Golf
Louis Parente named men’s head coach; Douglas Smith appointed women’s head coach.
PROVIDENCE, R.I.– Providence College Athletics Director Steve Napolillo announced today [October 31] the appointments of Louis Parente as men's golf head coach and Douglas Smith '88 as the women's head golf coach. Parente becomes the third men's golf coach in program history, while Smith will lead the women's program for its inaugural season in 2025-26.
"We are thrilled to welcome Lou and Doug to the Providence College family as we add men's and women's golf to our collection of varsity sports programs," Napolillo said. "Their combined experience and success at the collegiate level makes them ideal leaders to build a strong foundation as we bring golf back to Friartown. Their vision and leadership will help propel our programs forward as we give men and women an opportunity at the highest level in the BIG EAST."
Parente joins Providence College with 15 years of coaching experience. From 2005-2015, he served as the men's golf coach at Johnson & Wales University. In 2015, Parente helped launch the women's golf program at Johnson & Wales, serving as head coach for the men's and women's teams until 2020. Under his leadership, the Wildcats captured six Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships and made four NCAA Championship appearances. Five of his players earned GNAC Player of the Year honors. Parente was named GNAC Coach of the Year five times.
In addition to his on-course success, Parente managed all facets of the program, including recruiting, player development, travel, budgeting, equipment procurement and social media. He also served as President of the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association and sat on NCAA Division III committees for national championships and regional ranking advisories.
"Thank you to Athletic Director Steve Napolillo and President Fr. Kenneth Sicard for selecting me to lead the new era of varsity men's golf," Parente shared. "It's an honor to follow the late Joe Prisco, a legendary coach and even nicer person. I'm excited to become part of the Friar Family and experience firsthand the excitement and support from alumni and fans. I can't wait to begin building a competitive program aligned with the traditions and values of Providence College and I look forward to getting on the course with our student-athletes next fall!
Go Friars!"
Smith arrives in Providence with four years of head coaching experience, most recently as the head coach for the men's and women's golf teams at NCAA Division III Manhattanville University. Under his guidance, the men's team earned consecutive runner-up finishes at the Skyline Conference Championships and he coached a Conference Rookie of the Year and Athlete of the Year.
Before moving into collegiate coaching, Smith began his career as the varsity boys' golf coach at Riverdale Country School in the Bronx, N.Y. In addition to his coaching experience, Smith has owned and operated Golf Design Unlimited LLC in Eastchester, N.Y., for the past 25 years, specializing in the design and consulting of golf courses, practice facilities and other related infrastructure. Over his career, he has contributed to more than 200 design and renovation projects, including 20 new golf course designs and 20 driving range construction projects.
"I'm excited for this opportunity to lead the women's golf program and compete in the BIG EAST," Smith stated. "My entire career, since graduating Providence College, has been as a golf course architect and golf coach. I plan on using all my personal and professional golf skillsets to assemble and oversee a truly competitive team. Women's golf at the NCAA Division I level requires a blend of local and international players to compete at the highest level. A planned on-campus indoor training facility blended with a variety of local courses for practice will ensure the players will be ready to compete starting in Fall 2025."
Joe Monahan '66, father of current PGA Tour President/CEO Jay Monahan and former Friar golfer Justin Monahan '01, will be a volunteer ambassador to the Athletic Director for men's and women's golf. Monahan was a part of the men's hockey and golf team while attending Providence. In 1966, Monahan won the New England Intercollegiate Championship in a sudden death playoff.
Men's golf previously was sponsored by the College from 1932-1934 and then again from 1960-2002. The Friars claimed BIG EAST Championship titles in 1980 and 1993 and finished as runner-up on four other occasions (1979, 1983, 1985 and 1992). The program also produced six BIG EAST individual champions (Matt Zito – 1979, Bill Reardon – 1980, Andy Falcone – 1985, Shane Drury – 1986, Mike Ghelfi – 1992 and Marc Siewertsen - 1993) and 10 student-athletes earned All-America honors. Eight Friar teams competed in the NCAA Tournament and 14 individuals qualified for NCAA match competition. Providence College also claimed 18 Rhode Island Championships and three New England titles.
Women's golf will be making its collegiate debut at Providence College during the 2025-26 campaign.
Two funds have been established for donors to support Friar Golf. The Joseph Prisco '49 Golf Fund provides immediate program enhancing support to both the men's and women's programs. The Robert B. Napolillo Student-Athlete Endowed Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to men's and women's varsity golf student-athletes.
Donations can be made by calling Kevin Connolly at 401-865-1090 or visiting donate.givetopc.org.
Fans interested in purchasing Providence College golf gear, click here.
-GO FRIARS!-
"We are thrilled to welcome Lou and Doug to the Providence College family as we add men's and women's golf to our collection of varsity sports programs," Napolillo said. "Their combined experience and success at the collegiate level makes them ideal leaders to build a strong foundation as we bring golf back to Friartown. Their vision and leadership will help propel our programs forward as we give men and women an opportunity at the highest level in the BIG EAST."
Parente joins Providence College with 15 years of coaching experience. From 2005-2015, he served as the men's golf coach at Johnson & Wales University. In 2015, Parente helped launch the women's golf program at Johnson & Wales, serving as head coach for the men's and women's teams until 2020. Under his leadership, the Wildcats captured six Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships and made four NCAA Championship appearances. Five of his players earned GNAC Player of the Year honors. Parente was named GNAC Coach of the Year five times.
In addition to his on-course success, Parente managed all facets of the program, including recruiting, player development, travel, budgeting, equipment procurement and social media. He also served as President of the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association and sat on NCAA Division III committees for national championships and regional ranking advisories.
"Thank you to Athletic Director Steve Napolillo and President Fr. Kenneth Sicard for selecting me to lead the new era of varsity men's golf," Parente shared. "It's an honor to follow the late Joe Prisco, a legendary coach and even nicer person. I'm excited to become part of the Friar Family and experience firsthand the excitement and support from alumni and fans. I can't wait to begin building a competitive program aligned with the traditions and values of Providence College and I look forward to getting on the course with our student-athletes next fall!
Go Friars!"
Smith arrives in Providence with four years of head coaching experience, most recently as the head coach for the men's and women's golf teams at NCAA Division III Manhattanville University. Under his guidance, the men's team earned consecutive runner-up finishes at the Skyline Conference Championships and he coached a Conference Rookie of the Year and Athlete of the Year.
Before moving into collegiate coaching, Smith began his career as the varsity boys' golf coach at Riverdale Country School in the Bronx, N.Y. In addition to his coaching experience, Smith has owned and operated Golf Design Unlimited LLC in Eastchester, N.Y., for the past 25 years, specializing in the design and consulting of golf courses, practice facilities and other related infrastructure. Over his career, he has contributed to more than 200 design and renovation projects, including 20 new golf course designs and 20 driving range construction projects.
"I'm excited for this opportunity to lead the women's golf program and compete in the BIG EAST," Smith stated. "My entire career, since graduating Providence College, has been as a golf course architect and golf coach. I plan on using all my personal and professional golf skillsets to assemble and oversee a truly competitive team. Women's golf at the NCAA Division I level requires a blend of local and international players to compete at the highest level. A planned on-campus indoor training facility blended with a variety of local courses for practice will ensure the players will be ready to compete starting in Fall 2025."
Joe Monahan '66, father of current PGA Tour President/CEO Jay Monahan and former Friar golfer Justin Monahan '01, will be a volunteer ambassador to the Athletic Director for men's and women's golf. Monahan was a part of the men's hockey and golf team while attending Providence. In 1966, Monahan won the New England Intercollegiate Championship in a sudden death playoff.
Men's golf previously was sponsored by the College from 1932-1934 and then again from 1960-2002. The Friars claimed BIG EAST Championship titles in 1980 and 1993 and finished as runner-up on four other occasions (1979, 1983, 1985 and 1992). The program also produced six BIG EAST individual champions (Matt Zito – 1979, Bill Reardon – 1980, Andy Falcone – 1985, Shane Drury – 1986, Mike Ghelfi – 1992 and Marc Siewertsen - 1993) and 10 student-athletes earned All-America honors. Eight Friar teams competed in the NCAA Tournament and 14 individuals qualified for NCAA match competition. Providence College also claimed 18 Rhode Island Championships and three New England titles.
Women's golf will be making its collegiate debut at Providence College during the 2025-26 campaign.
Two funds have been established for donors to support Friar Golf. The Joseph Prisco '49 Golf Fund provides immediate program enhancing support to both the men's and women's programs. The Robert B. Napolillo Student-Athlete Endowed Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to men's and women's varsity golf student-athletes.
Donations can be made by calling Kevin Connolly at 401-865-1090 or visiting donate.givetopc.org.
Fans interested in purchasing Providence College golf gear, click here.
-GO FRIARS!-
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