Schuman Named Wisconsin Men's Golf Coach
July 25, 2003 | Men's Golf
Jim Schuman, the head golf professional and director of instruction at Hawks Landing Golf Club in Madison since June 2000, has been named Wisconsin men's golf coach. UW Athletic Director designee Barry Alvarez made the announcement Friday.
'We are exceptionally excited that Jim has decided to join our athletic department and coach the University of Wisconsin men's golf team, ' said Alvarez. 'What impressed me the most during the interview was his strong desire to be a college head coach. He is a terrific player, but most importantly, a wonderful person and world-class teacher.'
Before joining Hawks Landing Golf Club, Schuman was head of instruction at the Rick Smith Golf Academy in Naples, Fla. That academy is world-renowned for its teaching techniques and is a regular stop for many of the world's top PGA and LPGA professionals, including Phil Mickelson and Jerry Kelly.
'Jim grew up in the area, loves our community and is enthusiastic to share his knowledge of the golf swing with some of the outstanding young players in the nation,' said Alvarez. 'Being able to combine Jim 's expertise and dedication along with an outstanding facility at University Ridge Golf Course and a terrific academic institution, we're truly excited about the future of this program.'
Schuman, a Madison native and member of Edgewood High School 's 1980 WISAA state championship team, replaces Dennis Tiziani who retired from coaching at UW in June.
Schuman said during the search he was interested in giving back to his community and serving as a teacher and role model to young men. 'That age group of 16-22 is so impressionable,' Schuman said. 'I want to help those student-athletes find their way in golf and in life, just as someone did for me at that age.'
'My vision for this program has no bounds. I want the best players in the state to stay home and play at Wisconsin. And I want to build a solid tradition for Wisconsin golf with a cornerstone of those state players,' Schuman added.
The 39-year-old is a two-time winner of the Wisconsin State Open (1996 and 1999) and was the state's PGA Player of the Year in both 2001 and 2002. Beyond the state open titles, Schuman also won the 2001 and 2002 Stroke Play and Match Play state events. His fellow state professionals named him the 2003 PGA Teacher of the Year.
The two-time WISAA state high school champion attended nationally ranked Florida and lettered three years (1983, 1985-86) in golf. He earned All-American status in 1986, and was an All-SEC choice in 1985. He played on the Gator's 1985 SEC championship team and his season average of 72.7 strokes in 1986 is tied for the 13th-best (with current PGA TOUR pro Pat Bates) season in Florida history. Schuman also received the 1986 Buster Bishop Award at Florida for golf achievement and academic excellence.
Upon graduation with a degree in criminal justice, Schuman joined the Australian PGA Tour one year, and later played on the Nike and Ben Hogan Tours from 1990-94.
After receiving membership in the PGA of America in 1993, Schuman continued to compete and won the prestigious National Assistants Championship in 1996 and 1997. He is the only player to have won that national championship in back-to-back seasons. He was the Wisconsin Assistants Player of the Year in 1995, 1996 and 1997 while serving as an assistant pro at Maple Bluff Country Club (1996-98) in Madison, and Northwood Golf Course (1995) in Rhinelander, Wis.
Schuman and his wife, Nancy, have two sons: Adam (eight) and Alex (six).
