WEBSTER GROVES – Webster University Director of Athletics Scott Kilgallon has announced that head men's golf coach Andrew Belsky resigned from his position on Wednesday afternoon after spending the past 17 seasons directing the Gorlok men's golf program.
"After conversations with Coach Belsky, I have reluctantly accepted his resignation as head coach of our golf program. I know this was a difficult decision for Andrew as he struggled with his passionate commitment to his players and his family responsibilities," Kilgallon said. "Coach Belsky leaves a great legacy at Webster University as a former successful student-athlete and coach."
In his 17 seasons at the helm of Gorlok men's golf program, Belsky built Webster University into one of the top golf programs not only in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference but in the Midwest Region. During his tenure at his alma mater, Belsky, an eight-time SLIAC Coach of the Year and SLIAC Coach of the Decade, led the Gorloks to eight SLIAC Tournament championships and seven NCAA Division III National Tournament appearances, including making the cut and posting a 17th place finish at the NCAA National Championships in 2017.
"Seeing the Webster golf team grow and improve into one of the top programs in the country has been my pride and joy for the last 17 years. These guys and their parents are my family," Belsky said. "Life happens though and now is the time for me to adjust my focus to raising my new son, Jack, as a stay at home dad while continuing to grow the offerings of The Golf Foundation of Missouri."
Along with leading the Gorloks to eight SLIAC Championships and seven NCAA Championship appearances, Belsky coached one First-Team All-American (junior Will Hocker), six SLIAC Player of the Year selections, nine SLIAC Newcomer of the Year honorees, 51 SLIAC All-Conference selections, 14 All-American Scholars and the 2015 NCAA Division III Academic National Championship.
Belsky's final Webster team during the COVID-19 shortened 2019-20 season earned a program-best No. 19 ranking in the Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches Poll during the season and closed the season ranked No. 22 in the final poll of the season. Along with being ranked in the Top 20 nationally, the 2019-20 team finished the season with a single season team scoring record of 298.89 and that mark was nearly one stroke lower than the old single season record of 299.97 that was set by the 2018-19 team. The Gorloks ended Belsky's tenure winning three consecutive SLIAC titles from 2017-19 and in fact, Webster won six league titles over the past 10 years.
"I'm very proud of what we've accomplished in my career here at Webster. The groundwork has been laid for my replacement to have great success from the very beginning," added Belsky. "I'm sad not to continue being a part of it, but my heart will always bleed Blue and Gold."
Prior to becoming Webster's head coach in 2003, Belsky was a four-year letter winner in golf for the Gorloks as he was a four-time All-SLIAC selection and the first men's golfer in school history to win a tournament, as well as card an under-par competitive round of 70 (2-under par) at the Illinois Wesleyan University Invitational in 2000. In his career as a golfer, Belsky recorded a career scoring average of 80.8 from 1999-03. In addition to his 80.8 career scoring average, he played in 64 career rounds and tallied 5,173 strokes and in 38 events, he posted 20 Top 10 finishes, including a first place finish at the Westminster (Mo.) College Invitational in 1999.
Along with duties leading the Webster golf team, Belsky, who is a native of Sparta, IL, serves as the webmaster for the Webster Athletics website and is the Executive Director for the Golf Foundation of Missouri, a co-advisor for the Webster Athletics Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and serves on multiple committees for the Golf Coaches Association of America. In addition, he has been a member of the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee and is Sunset Country Club's representative to the St. Louis District Golf Association. He is a former PGA Apprentice Professional and a former member of the Webster University Alumni Board of Directors.
Belsky and his wife Katie reside in Des Peres, Mo., with their son, Jack.
Kilgallon said that a search for an interim coach will begin immediately and he is hopeful to have someone in place before the golf season begins in late February.
TRANSACTIONS: Webster University men's golf coach Andrew Belsky announces his resignation after 17 years at the school.
