%20(1).png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Crabtree's Career Full of Accomplishments and Memories
March 24, 2020 | Men's Golf
Mark Crabtree has guided the Cardinals to 11 regional appearances.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - After numerous regional and NCAA Championship appearances, the 2019-20 University of Louisville men's golf season was shaping up to be one of the best in school history.
After finishing in the top five of another event, the Cardinals were headed into their next event with the top stroke average --- in the entire country. The current season saw the Cardinals post three tournament wins and four other top three finishes with at least three tournaments remaining on the schedule.
"It was very disappointing for all of us, because we weren't able to do something that we thought we could do," U of L head golf coach Mark Crabtree, who announced his retirement in December, said.
When Crabtree took his team on a spring training trip in the middle of March, he never thought it would be the final opportunity to take his team on the course.
The team was playing at the Atlanta Athletic Club when the news came down that the NCAA canceled the remainder of the season.
The dreaded Coronavirus shut down the season for Crabtree, who is calling it quits after 21 seasons leading the Cardinals. The Colorado native leaves with a trophy case filled with accomplishments, most notably being 11 regional appearances, four NCAA Championship bids, and three BIG EAST titles. He was also the league's Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2009.
"There won't be too many coaches that this is the way they'll write the last of their script," Crabtree said. "I think it's the perfect time. I think it's the right time. I'm fortunate to go out with a tremendous group of young men who worked ambitiously hard every day to try and accomplish something great."
While Crabtree enjoyed a tremendous amount of success, one of his biggest accomplishments came last season when the Cardinals hosted a regional for the first time and advancing to the NCAA Championships.
"It was a great thing for the school to be able to host an event like that," Crabtree said. "There were so many people who put in a lot of time and effort to make that event special. It was a tremendous accomplishment for the school, and for our players to get to that next step."
Crabtree came to Louisville in 1998 and built the program from the bottom up, finishing his career with an opportunity for his program to even make a bigger jump this year. However, it was cut short.
"My love of the school, the university, the community, the donors, everybody that I came in contact with, it just inspired me even more to work ambitiously hard every day to make this program what it could potentially be," Crabtree said.
Over 21 years, Crabtree calls it quits not only as the longest tenured golf coach in school history, but also the most successful with 11 regional appearances and seven All-Americans.
Â
"It went by fast," Crabtree said. "But I feel really good about what was done over the time I was the head coach. However, I'm very proud of many of this kids that I was able to coach and what they were able to accomplish."
Â
Â
Â
After finishing in the top five of another event, the Cardinals were headed into their next event with the top stroke average --- in the entire country. The current season saw the Cardinals post three tournament wins and four other top three finishes with at least three tournaments remaining on the schedule.
"It was very disappointing for all of us, because we weren't able to do something that we thought we could do," U of L head golf coach Mark Crabtree, who announced his retirement in December, said.
When Crabtree took his team on a spring training trip in the middle of March, he never thought it would be the final opportunity to take his team on the course.
The team was playing at the Atlanta Athletic Club when the news came down that the NCAA canceled the remainder of the season.
The dreaded Coronavirus shut down the season for Crabtree, who is calling it quits after 21 seasons leading the Cardinals. The Colorado native leaves with a trophy case filled with accomplishments, most notably being 11 regional appearances, four NCAA Championship bids, and three BIG EAST titles. He was also the league's Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2009.
"There won't be too many coaches that this is the way they'll write the last of their script," Crabtree said. "I think it's the perfect time. I think it's the right time. I'm fortunate to go out with a tremendous group of young men who worked ambitiously hard every day to try and accomplish something great."
While Crabtree enjoyed a tremendous amount of success, one of his biggest accomplishments came last season when the Cardinals hosted a regional for the first time and advancing to the NCAA Championships.
"It was a great thing for the school to be able to host an event like that," Crabtree said. "There were so many people who put in a lot of time and effort to make that event special. It was a tremendous accomplishment for the school, and for our players to get to that next step."
Crabtree came to Louisville in 1998 and built the program from the bottom up, finishing his career with an opportunity for his program to even make a bigger jump this year. However, it was cut short.
"My love of the school, the university, the community, the donors, everybody that I came in contact with, it just inspired me even more to work ambitiously hard every day to make this program what it could potentially be," Crabtree said.
Over 21 years, Crabtree calls it quits not only as the longest tenured golf coach in school history, but also the most successful with 11 regional appearances and seven All-Americans.
Â
"It went by fast," Crabtree said. "But I feel really good about what was done over the time I was the head coach. However, I'm very proud of many of this kids that I was able to coach and what they were able to accomplish."
Â
Â
Â
MGOLF: Sebastian Moss Feature
Friday, August 01
Ryan Blagg Men's Golf Media Day Press Conference 02.12.25
Friday, May 16
Men's Golf Media Day 2023
Tuesday, January 24
MGOLF Jiri Zuska Feature
Thursday, September 29
