University of North Carolina Athletics
DiBitetto Named Men's Golf Head Coach
July 18, 2017 | Men's Golf
Andrew DiBitetto is the new head men's golf coach at the University of North Carolina, director of athletics Bubba Cunningham announced today.
DiBitetto (pronounced DEE-bi-TEH-toe) is a native of Rochester, N.Y. He was an honorable mention All-America golfer at Charlotte, where he finished ninth in the 2007 NCAA Championship, and has coached collegiately for nine seasons, including the last six as assistant and associate head coach at UNC. He also served as interim head coach at his alma mater in 2010-11.
"Andrew is a talented young coach who is committed to our student-athletes' success both on and off the golf course," says Cunningham. "He has a track record as an outstanding recruiter and a commitment to academic achievement, both when he played and as a coach. He has been an important part of our men's golf program's improvement over the last six years, and I am confident he will lead the team to greater levels in the years to come."
DiBitetto won the Jan Strickland Award in 2016, which is presented to the assistant coach who has excelled in working with their student-athletes both on the course and in the classroom. Earlier this spring, DiBitetto served as an assistant coach on the United States' team that defeated Team Europe in the Palmer Cup.
In his six years at Carolina, DiBitetto has recruited a number of outstanding junior golfers and helped the Tar Heels win seven team titles and post eight individual event wins. UNC returned to the NCAA Championship for the first time in 10 years in 2017 and finished tied for 18th. Ben Griffin tied for second at the ACC Championship and finished tied for 11th at the NCAA Championship en route to honorable mention All-America honors. Â Eight Tar Heels made the ACC Honor Roll, continuing a strong showing in the classroom that has been a hallmark of the men's golf program over the past six seasons. Six Tar Heels have made the Academic All-ACC team in DiBitetto's tenure, including Griffin, William Register and Jose Montaño, UNC's top three golfers in 2017.
DiBitetto helped recruit and coach Griffin and Register, who enter their senior seasons tied for second in UNC career stroke average. Overall, six of the top 25 Tar Heels in career stroke average have played at UNC in the last six seasons.
"First, I'd like to thank Coach (Andrew) Sapp," says DiBitetto. "He is a man of high character and it's impossible to describe how much I appreciate his guidance, support and friendship during the past six years we coached together, particularly during the last few weeks.
"I would also like to thank Bubba Cunningham and (associate A.D.) Paul Pogge for their belief in me. I'm grateful for the opportunity to lead a program at Carolina. My family and I are excited about this opportunity. The University of North Carolina is a special place that provides a first-class academic and athletic experience. Each day I will continue doing everything I can to help our student-athletes reach their full potential on and off the golf course."
DiBitetto was an accomplished golfer at Charlotte, where he led the 49ers to unprecedented success at the NCAA Championships. As a junior in 2007, he earned honorable mention GCAA/PING All-America honors after finishing ninth and leading Charlotte to a tie for third place at the NCAA Championships, the school's highest-ever finish. As a senior, Charlotte was ranked consensus No. 1, won the A-10 Championship and tied for eighth at the NCAA Championships. It was the first time in school history the 49ers posted back-to-back top 10s at NCAAs. DiBitetto finished second at the 2007 A-10 Championships and fifth in 2006 and led the 49ers to A-10 Championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
He also excelled in the classroom, winning Atlantic 10 Scholar-Athlete-of-the-Year honors in 2007, and was chosen an All-America Scholar by the coaches in 2007 and 2008.
DiBitetto graduated cum laude with a degree in business management and played professionally for a short time. He returned to Charlotte as assistant coach in 2009 and was named the interim head coach for the 49ers in December 2010.
DiBitetto and his wife, Laree, have a son, Levi.
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Players Mentioned
