MSUB Hires Men’s Golf Coach (8/23/06)

BILLINGS, MT – Athletics Director Dr. Gary Gray announced Wednesday that Jesse Valdez has been hired as the new head men’s golf coach at Montana State University-Billings.  Valdez becomes the program’s fourth head coach, replacing Jim Coleman.

“We’re happy to have Jesse accept our offer to coach our men’s golf team,” said Gray.  “He has a great deal of experience, and I believe he will be an outstanding mentor to our men’s golf student-athletes.”

Valdez is currently a pro shop assistant at The Briarwood Golf Course, the home course of the MSU Billings golf teams.  The previous three years he was a groundskeeper at The Briarwood.  For the past two summers he has also worked as a demo specialist for Acushnet Company, maker of Titleist and Cobra golf equipment.

Valdez is a native of Gary, Indiana.  He graduated from Calumet High School in 1970.  For 30 years Valdez was a supervisor at the Conoco Refinery in Billings.  During his tenure with Conoco he oversaw the construction and startup of a new refinery in Malaysia.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Valdez said of taking over the MSU Billings men’s golf program.  “I love the game of golf and have always wanted to give something back.  I have always liked the teaching aspect of the game.  What better way to give back to the game than help people with their game.  I’ve been following the MSUB golf team and have taken an interest in those kids.  I just want to see what I can add to the program.  Roger Burckley did a great job of getting things started, and then Jim Bob did a great job of recruiting this year.  I think we could be pretty good.”