PLNU Athletics

Point Loma Nazarene University Athletic Director Ethan Hamilton announced the hiring of Zack Ponder as men’s golf head coach for the 2012-13 season on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. A former Sea Lion student-athlete, Ponder will be assisted by former head coach Ben Foster, who will serve the program as Director of Men’s Golf.

In 2012, PLNU will compete in the NCAA DII as a member of the Pacific West Conference.
 
“I am thrilled and honored to be given the opportunity to lead the PLNU men's golf team in the last year of the program,” said Ponder. “This is truly a dream come true and I am excited to coach these young men, not only in golf, but be here for them in any aspect of their lives.  I am very appreciative of my former coach, Ben Foster, and the example I learned from him in the four years I played here.  Also, I am thankful for the trust Ethan Hamilton has shown in me.”
 
Ponder competed for the PLNU golf team for four years (2008-11), participating in 33 tournaments over that span and finishing in the top-10 on seven different occasions. In 2011, he earned a degree from PLNU in business administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship and finance.
 
Since graduation, Ponder has been working full-time in the hospitality industry as a Club Ambassador at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. He was recently engaged to Reka Katona.
 
“As a former student-athlete at Point Loma, I couldn't be more excited to be back in such a successful and historic program, but this time on the other side as a coach,” said Ponder. “I will take the experience and knowledge that I have learned as a player and apply it to coaching these young men to have the best experience possible in their last year playing collegiate golf.”
 
Ponder will begin his duties in the summer of 2012.