Bob Bontempo – Coach

(Presented by Laurie Priest, Senior Lecturer in Physical Education; Former MHC Athletics Director)

Bontempo served Mount Holyoke for 38 years from 1970 until 2007. In addition to founding and coaching the women's golf program, he also served as the head professional at the Orchards Golf Club, and as a lecturer within the Department of Physical Education at MHC. During his tenure, Bontempo's teams amassed unprecedented success, including the 1987-88 team, which finished second in the nation at the NCGA Division III Championships behind All-America performances from Kathleen Rourke '88 and Mary Beth Berndt '88. In all, three of his student-athletes garnered All-America honors, including Rourke, Berndt and Marcia Podvey '90, who finished ninth overall at the 1990 NCAA National Championships. A 2014 Western Mass Golf Hall of Fame inductee, Bontempo brought a number of events to the Orchards, including the 1973 National Women's Intercollegiate Championship, the USGA Junior Girls Championship and the 1993 NGCA Division II and III National Championship. CLICK TO VIEW THE OFFICAL RELEASE.