Coaching staff

Harold Hoftyzer

Head coach

712-707-7280
haroldh@nwciowa.edu

Named the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Coach of the Year in 2005, Harold Hoftyzer became the women’s golf coach at Northwestern in 1998. Says Hoftyzer, “I want student-athletes to strive for success both on the course and in daily life. My hope is that young women will use the abilities and talents God has given them for the good of the team. When players look back on their experiences at Northwestern, my desire is that they know they were part of something more than just golf.”

Since taking over the women’s golf program, Hoftyzer has developed the Raiders into an annual contender for the conference championship. He guided the team to the GPAC championship in 2001 and a runner-up finish in 2000. Hoftyzer-coached teams finished third in the conference race three times, most recently in 2009, and have placed in the top five four other times. During his tenure, the Raiders qualified for regionals five times, including three straight years from 2005-2007. Hoftyzer guided the 2000-01 team to the national tournament, where they finished 20^th.

Hoftyzer loves many of the experiences he has had while coaching golf, but the relationships he has built with his players are what mean the most to him. “It is very satisfying to see the women I coach leave here and know we have developed lasting friendships that go beyond the player-coach relationship,” he stated.

Under his direction, 21 players have earned all-conference honors, including two (Carrie Spree and Maggie Achterhof) during the 2008-09 season. In addition, 13 golfers were named NAIA Scholar-Athletes and his teams have twice been named an NAIA Scholar Team (2008 and 2009).

Through the relationships he builds with his athletes, Hoftyzer hopes to impress two key lessons upon them. First, he hopes they will learn to “play the game every time as physically and mentally tough and as passionately as possible, with the abilities given to them by God.” He also stresses that his students “be committed to God, Northwestern, teammates and themselves both on and off the field during their time here as well as after graduation.

“I enjoy coaching at Northwestern because the college offers all student-athletes the opportunity to excel and compete,” said Hoftyzer. Furthermore, Hoftyzer finds the campus community to be encouraging and supportive of golf. He commented, “Golf is appreciated and enjoyed by the Northwestern college family, not just the team and coach.”

A northwest Iowa native, Hoftyzer is certified by the Professional Golf Teachers & Coaches of America and works as an assistant to the head golf pro at Landsmeer Golf Club, the home course of the Red Raiders. In addition, Hoftyzer works at Northwestern for the advancement office as the phonathon coordinator. He has also served as the Red Raider Club president and was formerly the campus visitation coordinator at Northwestern. He and his wife, Jill, have two daughters, Janna and T.J., and six grandchildren.

Year-by-Year Results under Hoftyzer:
  1998-99: 4th in the NIAC
  1999-00: 3rd in the NIAC
  2000-01: 2nd in the GPAC; qualified for and placed 20th at nationals
  2001-02: GPAC Champions; 2nd in regionals
  2002-03: 3rd in the GPAC; 5th in regionals
  2003-04: 8th in the GPAC
  2004-05: 6th in the GPAC
  2005-06: 4th in the GPAC; 4th in regionals; GPAC Coach of the Year
  2006-07: 5th in the GPAC; 4th in regionals
  2007-08: 4th in the GPAC; 5th in regionals
  2008-09: 3rd in the GPAC (no regionals-switched to direct qualification)