PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. ---- In just his second season at the helm of the Huntingdon men’s golf program, Matt Mahanic has been honored as the Division III Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the Year.

Mahanic is now the third Hawks’ men’s golf coach to earn national Coach of the Year honors, joining Steve Condon and John Sadie, both of which earned Coach of the Year in the NAIA. Condon, a four-time winner, was named Coach of the Year from 1985-88, while Sadie garnered the honors in 1992 and 1994.

“This is a great honor, especially considering it is voted on by fellow coaches,” Mahanic said. “The fact that I was considered for this award is a true testament to the hard work that the team has done during the past season.”

During the 2008-09 season, Mahanic led Huntingdon to seven wins in 10 regular season tournaments. The Hawks finished runner-up in two events and third in the other. Huntingdon, which has been ranked first in the Division III in the Golf World/NIKE Golf Coaches Poll since October 15, 2008, also finished sixth at the NCAA Championships.

In his two seasons, Mahanic has helped the Hawks to 10 team victories in 21 events, including a win at the 2006 Greensboro Invitational, his first tournament as head coach.

In addition to Mahanic, who was named coach of the year for the South region, David Bakyta of Skidmore (Northeast), Allegheny’s Jeff Groff (Mid-Atlantic), Jon Whithaus of Ohio Wesleyan (Great Lakes), Illinois Wesleyan’s Jim Ott (Central) and Joe Skovron of La Verne were named Eaton Golf Pride Regional Coaches of the Year.