Monday, September 28, 2009

Moran Recipient of GCAA Meritorious Service Award

NORMAN, Okla. ? Villanova assistant men?s golf coach Jake Moran has been named recipient of the GCAA Meritorious Service Award. Moran is in his second season as assistant coach after serving as head coach for 15 seasons.

Jake Moran and his brother, Joe Moran, served as co-coaches at Villanova beginning in 1993.  Moran emphasized academic success to his teams. During his tenure as head coach the golf team consistently had one of the highest GPAs on campus. Several Wildcat golfers finished their college careers with 4.0 GPAs. Moran also started the ?Friends of Villanova Golf? tournament 16 years ago. In that time he has raised over $250,000 for the golf program.

Moran stepped down as Villanova head coach last season but stayed on as assistant coach. Even at the age of 80, Moran continues to stay active in the program and attend local Rules seminars.

Moran is a member of the Philadelphia Country Club and Overbrook Country Club and is also an active member of the Villanova Alumni Association and Golf Alumni Association. He is a volunteer at his church and local community hospital and spends most of his free time aiding and comforting the terminally ill. Moran also contributes annually to the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship program, which helps provide funds for local caddies to attend college. He and his wife Sheila live in Berwyn. The couple has three children and eight grandchildren.

?The GCAA is proud to present Coach Moran with its Meritorious Service Award,? said GCAA President Mark Crabtree. ?Coach?s efforts to keep Villanova golf thriving and his continued service to the program now that he is no longer head coach - not to mention his selfless giving of his time to help others in the community - speak to his character and serve as an example to all of us.?