Allegheny Alumnus Carter Hassenplug ’25 Named Head Golf Coach

Allegheny College Director of Athletics Bill Ross is pleased to announce the hiring of former Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) champion and PAC Player of the Year Carter Hassenplug '25 as the Gators' next Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach.

Hassenplug becomes the 11th head coach of the men's team and only the second coach of the women's team following the retirement of Jeff Groff, who stepped down after 41 years as a baseball, golf and soccer coach at Allegheny. The Class of 2025 graduate is the third alumnus to take the reins of the men's golf team and the first since Winfield Scott "Skip" Zehrung '53 M'54, who led the Gators from 1955-57.

"We're pleased to welcome Carter as the next head coach of our men's and women's golf programs," Ross said. "Over the past year, he has demonstrated a strong ability to connect with our student-athletes and a genuine commitment to the continued success of both teams. His familiarity with Allegheny, combined with his enthusiasm for developing students on and off the course, makes him an outstanding choice to lead our golf programs into the future."

I am honored and extremely excited to be named the next head coach of the Allegheny golf teams," Hassenplug said. "Having my name added to the short list of legendary coaches who have taken the programs to high levels of success is surreal, and I am looking forward to the opportunity presented to me. Following in Coach Groff's footsteps won't be easy, but my hopes and expectations are high for both myself and the teams.

Groff also endorsed the promotion of Hassenplug, who served as a volunteer assistant coach on his staff during the 2025-26 season.

"I firmly believe the Allegheny golf program is in great hands with Carter," Groff said. "He has put his heart and soul into this program as a player and coach for the last five years. He doesn't take shortcuts and shows up every day with renewed enthusiasm. He fully understands the long and storied tradition of Allegheny golf and is excited to take it to new heights."

One of the most decorated golf student-athletes in Allegheny history, Hassenplug led the Blue and Gold to two team championships and was crowned the PAC individual medalist three times during his sophomore, junior and senior years. In the spring of 2024, he secured the team's first conference title in 18 seasons with a 30-foot chip shot on the 18th hole on Mill Creek's South Course, while beating the medalist runner-up by 11 strokes. The following spring, he became the second PAC student-athlete to win three consecutive championships with a 13-shot victory, as the Gators beat second-place Washington & Jefferson College by a whopping 33 strokes. Hassenplug holds numerous team records, including the two lowest season scoring averages with a 72.4 in 2023-24 and a 71.7 in 2024-25. He also tied the lowest single-round score in program history with a 64 (-8) at the Mason-Dixon Collegiate Classic on Oct. 6, 2024.

Hassenplug garnered numerous awards for his performance on the course and in the classroom. The North East, Pennsylvania, native was named to the All-PAC and All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) First Team in each of his four years and was a three-time all-region selection. At the conclusion of his senior year, he received Allegheny's Senior Achievement Award, was voted the Male Student-Athlete of the Year by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and was tabbed a Second-Team Academic All-American by College Sports Communicators (CSC). The PAC also recognized him as a Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipient.

A mathematics major, Hassenplug was a four-time Distinguished Alden Scholar and graduated summa cum laude with a 3.95 GPA. He previously served as a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors in Erie.

Athletics at Allegheny

Photo credit: Ed Mailliard