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Charlotte 49ers head golf coach Adam Pry has announced the hiring of former 49ers standout Andrew DiBitetto as assistant coach, July 15, 2009. DiBitetto, an all-America golfer and former A-10 Golf Student Athlete of the Year who graduated in 2008, was part of a historic 49ers class that became the first in school history to participate in four straight NCAA Tournaments.
"I am absolutely thrilled to name Andrew DiBitetto as our Assistant Coach," said Pry, who was named head coach in June. "Andrew's experience as a highly successful student-athlete, a professional golfer and assistant coach made him the ideal candidate for the position. As a former team member, Andrew is passionate about UNC Charlotte and the Charlotte 49ers golf team. This passion helped Andrew become one of the most successful student-athletes in our team's history and will certainly serve the golf team extremely well as the assistant coach."
DiBitetto, who served as an interim assistant coach for the 49ers in the spring of 2009, was named an honorable mention all-America as a junior in 2007 after leading the 49ers to a tie for 3rd place at the NCAA National Championships. DiBitetto, who posted a career stroke average of 73.04, finished in 9th place at the NCAA finals, the best-ever finish by a 49ers golfer. In 2008, he keyed a 49ers team that became the first in school history to be ranked as the consensus #1 team in the country. The 49ers would go on to post an 8th-place finish at the NCAA Championships as the golf team became the first program in school history to post back-to-back top 10 finishes in NCAA Championship competition. As interim assistant coach in 2009, DiBitetto helped the 49ers to a fourth straight A-10 title and a fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
"I would especially like to thank Adam, Judy Rose, Darin Spease, Kim Whitestone, along with the rest of the athletic department staff for this great opportunity," DiBitetto said. "In my years here as a student-athlete, it was obvious that this athletic department does things the right way and for the right reasons, while having fun doing it. I thoroughly enjoyed my playing years as a Charlotte 49er and I am thrilled to now be connected to this University, department, and golf program as an assistant coach."
A three-time all-conference choice, DiBitetto enjoyed his best season as a junior, shooting a career-best 72.8 stroke average and finishing as the individual runner-up at the Atlantic 10 Championship before posting his top ten individual finish at the NCAA Championship. He was an all-Conference USA second team selection and all-Rookie choice as a freshman in 2005, helping the 49ers to their first-ever NCAA Regional Tournament. In 2006, he earned all-Atlantic 10 honors with a fifth-place finish at the league championships as the 49ers won their first A-10 title and advanced through the NCAA Regionals to the 30-team NCAA Championships. The 49ers made history by returning to the NCAA Championships in DiBitetto's final two years, posting those top 10 overall finishes in 2007 and 2008.
DiBitetto also excelled in the classroom and was a two-time GCAA Scholar all-America, the 2007 A-10 Men's Golf Student-Athlete of the Year and a two-time selection to the A-10's all-Academic team.
"Andrew's personality made him a natural team leader during his playing career and I am confident those same traits will make him a very successful coach," Pry added. "This is a great day for Charlotte golf."
"I am looking forward to working with a young, energetic, and talented team, as well as with Adam, as we all strive to get better on and off the course each day," DiBitetto said. "This year should be a lot of fun as we work together to accomplish our goals."
A native of Rochester, N.Y., DiBitetto graduated in 2008 with a 3.57 GPA and a degree in business management.
Fall, 2007:
Posted a 71.7 stroke average as Charlotte went unbeaten in four stroke play events and shot to a consensus #1 national ranking ... went 4-0 at National Collegiate Golf Match Play Championships ... competed in the 28-player all-Americ Classic.
Summer, 2007:
Reached the round of 16 at the North & South Amateur ... runner-up at the NY State Amateur ... won the John Ryan Memorial Championship in Rochester, N.Y. ... participated in Nationwide Tour's Xerox Classic.
2006-07:
Keyed Charlotte's 3rd-place finish at the NCAA Championships ... Honorable Mention GCAA all-America following his 9th-place finish at the NCAA Championships (joined teammate Corey Nagy as the 49ers first-ever GCAA all-Americans) ... GCAA all-America Scholar ... A-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year in men's golf ... individual runner-up at the A-10 Championships (career-best -12, 204) as niners won second straight title ... posted a 72.8 stroke average .. shot -2, 278 at NCAA Championships to post Niners top finish ever (9th).
Summer, 2006:
N.Y. State Amateur Champion. ... qualified for 2006 US Amateur, advancing to round of 32 ... advanced through local qualifying for the 2006 U.S. Open ... advanced to match play in North & South Am.
2005-06:
72.9 stroke average as a sophomore ... season-best -8, 208 at BYU Cougar Classic .... placed tied for fifth (-5, 211) to help Charlotte capture the A-10 Championship ... earned all-Atlantic 10 honors ... fired a +5, 221 as Charlotte placed fifth at the NCAA Regionals to advance to NCAA Championships ... led 49ers to T2nd finish at 15-team Wolverine Intercollegiate (-2, 211) ... shot -5, 211 at Mid-Pines Intercollegiate to help team to victory ... competed in all 13 events. Summer, 2005: Qualified for 2005 US Amateur ... advanced through local qualifying for 2005 US Open ... advanced to match play at 2005 New York State Amateur ... advanced to match play in North & South Am.
2004-05:
2nd-team all-Conference USA ... C-USA all-Freshman team ... co-Team MVP (with Matt Mincer) as Niners earned first-ever NCAA Tournament berth ... team-best 73.0 stroke average ... matched 49ers then-school-record with round of 65 at the Birkdale ... won individual title (-9, 207) as Niners won the Birkdale Intercollegiate ... placed T3rd at Furman with a -5, 211 to earn C-USA Player of the Week honors ... Played all 12 events (35 rounds) ... 49ers top finisher five times: Birkdale, Furman, Franklin Street Partners (-2, 214; T9th), Adam's Cup (+1, 145; T9th), Duke Classic (+10, 226; T30th) ... 4.0 GPA (Chancellor's List; C-USA Commissioner's Medal).
At Greece Athena High:
2002 and 2004 Nike all-American ... Qualified for the 2004 US Amateur and the 2002 and 2003 USGA Junior Amateur .. 2002 Nike Junior Ryder Cup team in Ireland ... 2004 New York State Am runner-up ... 54th in final 2003 Sagarin/ Golfweek Junior Rankings; 71st, National Junior Golf Scoreboard ... set school records for 9-hole score (28), 18-hole score (61) and career stroke average (35.3) ... undefeated in match play the last three years ... 1st team all-state hockey player ... 2003, 2004 Greece Athena Athlete of Year ... born Jan. 17, 1986 ... son of Tony and Lynne DiBitetto.
Year Tournaments Rounds Strokes Low Round Stroke Avg.Fall, 2007 4 12 860 69 71.7 2006-07 Season 13 40 2910 66 72.8 2005-06 Season 13 38 2770 69 72.9 2004-05 Season 12 35 2555 65 73.0 Career 42 125 9095 65 72.76
