The Marquette golf team’s head coach Stephen Bailey may be a new face on campus, but the values he brings with him are quite familiar.
Bailey, hired in July, comes to Marquette from Northwestern University, where he held the position of associate men’s head golf coach. His transition between cities has been smooth, but not nearly as smooth as his transition into Marquette’s family.
“I couldn’t ask for a more welcoming community,” Bailey said. “Everyone from the athletic department to the people on campus has made it so easy.”
The Jesuit motto of “Men for Others” runs parallel to the way Bailey looks to build Marquette’s golf program. He values the golfer not just as an athlete measured by skill but as an individual in the community measured by service to others.
“I just want our guys to be more well-rounded people as well as better golfers,” Bailey said. “Values and character are going to be a big part of what we do. Marquette’s values made it a good fit for me.”
Marquette’s Athletic Director Steve Cottingham is thrilled to have a coach of Bailey’s caliber be part of the program.
“We are delighted to welcome Steve [Bailey] and his wife Bethany to Marquette and to Milwaukee,” Cottingham said in a press release when Bailey was hired. “Coach Bailey has demonstrated the ability to recruit to the Midwest and has shown that he can be successful at the highest level in collegiate golf.”
Bailey’s time at Northwestern brought him much acclaim as a recruiter. His past pupils include Big Ten individual champions David Lipsky (2010) and Chris Wilson (2006).
His 2008-’09 class was ranked in the nation’s top ten by Golfweek. From this highly talented class came one of Bailey’s most talented pupils, as well as an experience he will never forget.
South Korea native Eric Chun qualified for this year’s British Open and chose Bailey as his caddy.
“Being at St. Andrews, where golf began, was a different experience,” Bailey said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Eric compete against players like Dustin Johnson and Martin Caymer.”
Bailey has already made a profound impact on his new team as a strong leader.
“He’s a great motivator,” said senior Ben Sieg. “He has stressed to us that getting better will be a day-to-day process.”
In Bailey’s first tournament at the Gopher Invitational in Wazata, Minn., Marquette disappointed. It finished tied for last (10th) with Wisconsin, with an overall score of 935, 71-over-par.
Sieg led the Golden Eagles with an overall score of 225, shooting a 9-over-par and tying for 21st. Senior Kelly Kretz posted the second-best score for Marquette, shooting an 18-over-par. Kretz finished tied for 39th.
Regardless of Monday’s results, Bailey said he remains excited for the rest of the season and the beginning of his tenure as head coach.
“There is definitely a lot of positive energy surrounding this team,” Bailey said. “It’s going to be an easy transition, and I’m excited for the opportunity.”
