Nikolai hired as Men's and Women's Golf head coach

MEQUON, Wis. – Concordia University Wisconsin Director of Athletics Dr. Rob Barnhill has announced the hiring of Greg Nikolai, as head coach for the Men's and Women's Golf programs.

Nikolai brings an extensive knowledge of golf instruction to CUW after working in the industry for 30-plus years. He is PGA Certified Class A-15 for over 25 years and was a head golf professional at numerous clubs in the Milwaukee area, and most recently oversaw all golf operations at Dick's Sporting Goods.

"I am pleased to be adding Greg to our roster of full-time coaches," Barnhill said. "His knowledge about the game of golf will be a great benefit to our current student-athletes and those that he will recruit. The student-athletes on the Men's and Women's Golf teams are very important to us and they deserve the level of support and attention that a full-time coach can offer. I am excited about the future with Greg leading the charge."

Nikolai takes over both programs that have had success over the past decade. The Falcons' Women's Golf program has won four NACC Championships, advanced to the NCAA Championship twice and had the Player of the Year seven times. Meanwhile, the Men's Golf program tied for first at the 2014-15 NACC Championship, but lost in a playoff, and had the league's Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. They also had seven top-5 finishes in the past year-and-a-half.

"I am excited and looking forward to the challenge of returning both programs to NACC Championship status," Nikolai said. "Becoming the first full-time golf coach in school history brings a lot of expectations and I am ready to help our student-athletes lower their scores and improve on and off the course. The viability of both programs will improve with instruction and recruiting over time."

His PGA Certification achievement is among the half percent that have reached the level that of membership. Nikolai is also eligible to obtain his Master Professional Status, which would make him the only professional in the Wisconsin PGA Section.

At Dick's Sporting Goods, Nikolai guided the department to become elite within the company; selling nearly a $1 million during the course of 2015. Previously, he was the head golf professional at Silver Spring Country Club (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), the Country Club of Wisconsin (Grafton, Wis.), Olympia Resort (Oconomowoc, Wis.), Rainbow Springs Golf Club (Mukwonago, Wis.), Squires Golf Club (Port Washington, Wis.) and Missing Links Golf Club (Mequon, Wis.).

Nikolai has also helped thousands of golfers with instruction and club fitting during his time in the golf profession. He is married to his wife Mary and live in Grafton. They have two adult children, Lauren and Chad.