Jeff Groff Announces Retirement After 41 Years at Allegheny

It's the end of an era in Meadville. After more than four decades of service to the department of athletics, head men's and women's golf coach Jeff Groff has announced his retirement from Allegheny College.

Groff will continue to coach the Gators through the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships before stepping down at the end of June. He first broke the news to the golf teams by the 18th green at the conclusion of the 2026 PAC Spring Championships.

What started as a 10-month internship as the assistant to then-athletic director Norm Sundstrom evolved into a 41-year professional career in Tool City. Since 1985, Groff has held a variety of roles at Allegheny, ranging from athletic operations to facility management and associate athletic director, while coaching five different teams across three sports. Furthermore, he has been a friend and mentor to countless student-athletes, colleagues, and peers across the collegiate athletics landscape.

"I never imagined that what was supposed to be a 10-month internship would turn out to be a 41-year career at this remarkable institution," Groff said. "I have always felt that being a coach at Allegheny was an honor and a privilege. I will always treasure the relationships, stories, laughter, tears, and special moments that only an athlete and a coach can uniquely share."

Jeff Groff is the ultimate model of what a coach should be," said Bill Ross, director of athletics and recreation. "Over 41 years at Allegheny College, he wore many hats without complaint and brought his utmost dedication and success to every sport he touched. Thirty years ago, he chaired the committee that brought me here as the head cross country and track coach - a life-changing moment for which I am eternally grateful. He has been a lifelong friend and role model to me, and I wish him and his wife, Chris, the very best in this next chapter.

After spending the 2001-02 season as the interim head men's golf coach, Groff took over the program on a permanent basis and has led the Gators for the past 25 years. He's the only coach to lead the women's golf team, which began as a varsity sport during the 2005-06 academic year. Combined, he guided the Gators to 15 national championship appearances, five conference championships, and numerous tournament victories. His student-athletes have garnered a multitude of honors, ranging from North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Player of the Year, NCAA Rookie of the Year, and All-America recognition.

"When I first started coaching college golf, Jeff Groff was instrumental in my understanding of what a college golf coach should be," said Bob Simms, head golf coach at St. John Fisher University. "Not only did he become a friend, but he was also a fantastic mentor. Any success that I have had can be traced back to our frequent conversations. From coaching baseball, soccer, and golf, Allegheny College was lucky to have such a person on their team."

As head men's golf coach, Groff was crowned Coach of the Year at the conference level on five occasions and twice was recognized at the regional level. His student-athletes earned 10 All-America awards, highlighted by Ben Rathfon '05, one of only three Gators in team history to earn All-American honors in each of his four seasons. In 2006, Chris Moore '09 was named the recipient of the Phil Mickelson Award as the most outstanding freshman golfer in Division III. Most recently, Groff's men's golf program dominated the PAC since rejoining the conference four years ago. The Gators won each of the last three PAC championships, and recent graduate Carter Hassenplug '25 captured a trio of individual medalist awards from 2023-25.

"Jeff Groff was one of the most dedicated, loyal people I have ever had the privilege of being associated with," Sundstrom said. "If you asked him to do a job, you could rest assured the job would be accomplished. Forty-one years at Allegheny, he completed every assignment; you can't be more loyal than that. I congratulate him for going out as winner with PAC championships in his final three years."

Under Groff's watch, women's golf burst onto the scene when it was introduced in 2005-06. The inaugural team, which was inducted into the Allegheny Hall of Fame last fall, won its first-ever tournament at Baldwin Wallace University, broke into the national rankings before the holiday break, and was selected to compete at the 2006 NCAA Championships. The Gator women qualified for seven consecutive national tournaments between 2006 and 2012, and won the first-ever NCAC title in the spring of 2011.

Known best for his humble personality and keen sense of humor, Groff's student-athletes often remark on how he challenges them to be the best versions of themselves, not only on the golf course, but also in the classroom. He encourages students to pursue and accomplish their goals while emphasizing lessons that extend far beyond athletics and can be applied to everyday life, both personally and professionally. One of the ways he fosters growth is through problem solving, often trusting his students to "FIO" - Figure It Out - one of his signature sayings.

Coach Groff represents, to me, honesty and integrity, and he does his best to impart that onto every student-athlete that is on his team," said women's golf alumna Elizabeth Blyth '13, the first women's golfer to earn All-America status, during her Hall of Fame induction. "Yes, he cares about how we do on the course, but even more, he cares about how we perform in the classroom. And above all of that, he cares about our character, how we show up every day for ourselves and for each other. I can't tell you the numerous life lessons I've been taught by Coach Groff.

In addition to his administrative and golf duties, Groff spent time as an assistant coach for baseball under Rick Creehan and for men's soccer under Marty Goldberg '62. He also oversaw Allegheny women's soccer as the second head coach in program history from 1998-2001, posting a 51-24-4 overall record with a winning record each season. He was voted the NCAC Coach of the Year after a 16-win campaign in the fall of 2000, and trained future Allegheny Hall of Famers Elizabeth Orr Sowa '03, Jane Och Sharpless '03, and Lauren Moser '04.

An accomplished athlete in his own right, Groff was an Academic All-American as a baseball student-athlete at Millersville University. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Millersville in 1983 before earning a master's in sports administration from Kent State University in 1985.

"To the hundreds of student-athletes from the baseball, soccer, and golf teams, thank you for being a part of my journey," Groff said. "It has been the joy of my life to be a part of yours."