Nittany Lion Assistant Men's Golf Coach Richard Distlerath Honored

State College, Pa., January 3, 2000 - Current Penn State assistant men's golf coach Richard Distlerath has been honored as the 1999 District II Coach-of-the-Year. Distlerath, who last season was the head coach at Seton Hall, received the honor after leading the Pirates to the most tournament wins of any Division I men's golf team in 1998-99. Seton Hall finished last season as the top ranked team in District II and qualified for the NCAA Eastern Regional for the second consecutive season. The Pirates finished last season ranked 46th nationally.

The award culminated a five-year stint at the New Jersey school which saw Distlerath resurrect the men's golf program. He guided the Pirates to their first-ever postseason appearance in 1998 when they qualified for the NCAA Eastern Regional. Following the 1998 season Distlerath was recognized as Big East Coach-of-the-Year.

Distlerath is currently in his first season as an assistant coach at Penn State. He helped lead the Nittany Lions to a successful fall season which saw them claim two team championships. Penn State will open the spring campaign in Ocala, Fla. at the Silver Spring Shores Invitational on March 11-12.