University of Hartford

Former University of Hartford golfer Pete Stankevich enters his first season as head coach at his alma mater. He was named to the position in June, the first head coaching job of his career.

Stankevich, a Class A PGA member for 15 years and golf professional for 19 years, becomes the eighth head coach in the school’s history. He inherits a program rich in tradition; the Hawks have made 14 NCAA appearances and produced six All-Americans and three PGA Tour professionals.

A graduate of Hartford in 1989, Stankevich was a member of the 1987-88 men’s golf team that won 10 tournaments—including NEIGA and New England Championships—and qualified for the NCAA Championship. During that season he was a teammate of Jerry Kelly, Tim Petrovic and Patrick Sheehan, all of whom went on to careers on the PGA Tour.

“It’s especially gratifying when you can hire ‘one of your own’,” said Director of Athletics Patricia Meiser at the time of the hiring. “Pete Stankevich was an important part of one of the great men’s golf teams in the University’s history. Jerry Kelly, Tim Petrovic and Patrick Sheehan have gone on to demonstrate the talent level of that era at the professional level, and Pete has remained active in the golfing world in several facets. He brings enormous talent and experience to the table.”

Stankevich has spent the past 11 years as a teaching professional. As the PGA Director of Instruction at Golf Quest Family Sports Center in Brookfield, CT, he helped to develop Golf Quest Academy into the state’s premier instruction program. The facility has been consistently ranked in the top 100 in the United States and was voted best practice facility in Connecticut.

Stankevich has also served as head or assistant golf professional at several golf courses in the state of Connecticut, including Elmridge Golf Course (Pawcatuck), Glastonbury Hills (South Glastonbury) and Clinton Country Club (Clinton).

Over the last nine years, Stankevich has also used his talents in independent golf course design work. He got his start under renowned British golf course architect Roy Case in 1996 as an associate at Case Golf Company in Lake Worth, FL. 

Stankevich earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1989. He returned to Hartford to complete his master’s degree in economics in 1995.