CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – Union College head women's golf coach Matt McPhillips was recognized by the Northeastern New York Section of the PGA of America as the 2025 Teacher and Coach of the Year, honoring his exceptional contributions to golf instruction at both the grassroots and collegiate levels.
A PGA Specialized Professional in Teaching and Coaching, McPhillips serves as Director of Instruction at Union's home course, Mohawk Golf Club. He previously was a two-time winner of the NENY PGA Section's Professional Development Award in 2021 and 2022.
McPhillips' instruction has already made a major impact with the Garnet Chargers. The team averaged a record-setting 332.67 strokes per round in 2024-25, nearly 10 strokes better than the previous program standard, and finished in fourth place at the Liberty League Championships. Led by Liberty League Rookie of the Year Iyene Essien and three-time All-Conference honoree Liz Bentsianov, Union players recorded three of the top-seven single-season scoring averages in program history, while the team improved its national ranking by nearly 100 spots this season and finished the year 71st in Division III and 14th in the NCAA East Region.