Alma College has hired Michael Mignano as the Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach, effective immediately, Director of Athletics Steven Rackley announced on Wednesday (July 18).
"We're very excited to add Coach Mignano to the staff," said Rackley. "He brings an unmatched level of knowledge and perspective and we're confident that his skills and experience will take our golf program to the next level."
"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to carry on the tradition and legacy of Coach Goffnett and Alma College Golf," said Mignano. "I want to thank President Abernathy, Steven Rackley, Sarah Dehring, Tracy Howd, the search committee, and the entire athletics department staff for their warm welcome and professionalism during the search process. Alma College is a special place and I look forward to working with the Scots Golf student-athletes as they pursue excellence in the classroom, on the golf course, and in their professional lives."
Mignano has formerly been the head men's and women's golf coach at Ferris State University from 2008 to 2016. During his time with the Bulldogs, he compiled a 1705-640 record across both the men's and women's programs, and has led the programs to four separate top-eight finishes at the NCAA Division II National Championships, including a fourth-place finish with the women in 2008 and a program-best seventh place finish with the men in 2010. In 2009, he took both programs to the national postseason, with the women placing sixth and the men placing eighth. The men's program made the NCAA postseason all nine years under Mignano's leadership while the women advanced there for seven straight years.
On an individual level, Mignano coached two separate individual qualifiers at the NCAA National Championship. He also coached three Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and three Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-Americans, 34 Division II All-American Scholar-Athletes, 55 All-Conference team members, two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Players of the Year and one GLIAC Freshman of the Year. His teams have earned a number of academic honors, such as the GCAA Division II Team Academic National Champions and GCAA Team Academic awards for four consecutive years.
Mignano spends a portion of his time as the golf program coordinator of the Special Olympics of Michigan, which he has done since 2010. He is also an assistant golf coach at The First Tee of Mid-Michigan and a captain at the PGA Junior League in Lansing.
Mignano is currently completing his Master's degree in Kinesiology from Michigan State University and is expected to graduate with a Doctorate in Kinesiology from MSU in 2021. He completed his Master's degree in Business Administration from Ferris State in 2010 after attaining his Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing/Professional Golf Management 2006 from FSU. He has been a graduate assistant in multiple Kinesiology courses at MSU, as well as an instructor in online courses and a number of activity courses since 2017.
