The head coaching position for Princeton’s men’s golf team will be named in honor of an alumnus who is one of the most accomplished golfers in the University's history. The J. Stuart Francis ’74 Head Coach of Men’s Golf position has been endowed by a group of donors that includes Francis, who was an All-America and All-Ivy honoree in 1973 and helped his team win two Ivy League championships.
Now vice chairman of Barclays Capital in Menlo Park, Calif. and a senior amateur competitive golfer, Francis co-captained the undefeated 1974 squad with classmate Randy Riley. They finished 14-0 in dual matches, capping a three-year run in which their Princeton teams had a 36-3-1 record.
Gary Walters ’67, the Ford Family Director of Athletics, stated, “Stu Francis has always been a leader in everything he attempts. Princeton, the athletic department, and the golf program will now benefit from Stu’s great affection for his alma mater and his passionate belief in ‘Education Through Athletics.’ By virtue of this generous endowment gift and his example, Stu and other contributors have ensured that future generations of Princeton student-athletes will be able to learn life lessons on the golf course.”
The success of the Princeton golf teams under head coach Bill Quackenbush during Francis’ undergraduate years was emblematic of more than a century of achievement for the golf program. Princeton claimed 12 NCAA team championships from 1914 to 1940 and has won 23 Ivy League titles.
Princeton golfers won the Ivy League individual championship 12 times between 1979 and 2005, and a Princeton golfer has earned All-Ivy League accolades 38 times since 1970.
The J. Stuart Francis ’74 Head Coach of Men’s Golf joins the list of distinguished named coaching positions at Princeton that have been created in recognition of the positive impact that athletics have had on the lives of Princetonians.
Current head coach Will Green will be the first J. Stuart Francis ’74 Head Coach of Men's Golf. Green has coached at Princeton since 1999, leading the Tigers to six Ivy titles and six NCAA appearances.
“Princeton golf’s excellence is driven by the collective effort of players, coaches, alumni, administrators and friends, and there is no better example of lifelong commitment to the program than Stu Francis,” Green said. “Stu’s relationship with Princeton golf has been unwavering for four decades, and he has been a mentor and friend to coaches and players alike. I am honored to be the first J. Stuart Francis ’74 Head Coach of Men’s Golf and exceedingly grateful to Stu and all the supporters of this endowment.”
Since graduating from Princeton, Francis has been a leading volunteer for the University and a generous and consistent supporter of Annual Giving, the golf program and other athletics programs, including basketball. He helped to found the Friends of Princeton Golf and currently serves on the Princeton Varsity Club Advisory Committee. Francis has also served as a member of the Aspire Campaign Executive Committee, a co-chair of the Aspire Regional Steering Committee for Northern California, and a volunteer for Annual Giving, which raises unrestricted support for the University.
“I am deeply grateful for everything Princeton golf stands for, and I have benefited throughout my life from the program’s legacy of competitive excellence,” Francis said. “It was very gratifying to have a strong group of supporters with similar feelings join me in endowing this position. This endowment will provide a strong foundation for the varsity golf team and coach Will Green to continue the program’s long tradition of success.”
The coaching endowment gift is part of Aspire, the University’s five-year fundraising campaign that concluded on June 30, 2012, after raising $1.88 billion.
