Alumnus Al Velicka Hired as UNH Men's Golf Coach

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Alumnus Al Velicka Hired as UNH Men's Golf Coach

Article Body: (06-12-08)

WEST HAVEN, Conn. -- University of New Haven alumnus Al Velicka has been hired as the new head coach of the Charger men's golf team, Director of Athletics Deborah Chin announced today.

Velicka is a 1968 graduate of UNH with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He competed for the Charger men's golf team for three seasons from 1964-66 under then-head coach Al Nicholson.

"I'm very pleased to introduce Al as the newest member of our department," said Chin. "He played for UNH during the early days of our program, when we were building the foundation for later success. Al has a good history of personal achievement playing golf in this area and will be able to use his contacts to help us recruit talented student-athletes to our program."

Velicka played on teams that helped lay the foundation for UNH's early success in men's golf under Nicholson. Shortly after he graduated, the team posted its all-time best showing with a seventh place finish at 1970's Division II Championships. UNH men's golf has had recent success as well, making appearances as a team in the NCAA Championships in both 2004 and 2005, and sending individual competitors to the Regionals in 2006 and 2007.

"I can't begin to express the honor and excitement that I feel coming back to UNH as men's golf coach," Velicka said. "I am eager to coach this team and instill in these young men the dedication that I feel for the game of golf. Hopefully, I can also teach them some of the skills that I have acquired in order to help our team succeed in the future."

Velicka has a long history of amateur golf success as an individual. He was club champion at Crestbrook Park Golf Course in both 1975 and 1976, and was Watertown town champion at the same course in 1976 and '78. In 1996 he earned the club championship at Waterbury Country Club, and in 1999 had the four-day low gross score to win the King's Cup Championship at the Waikoloa Club in Hawaii.

In 1997 and 1998, Velicka participated in a unique play-all-day charity tournament at Waterbury Country Club. Along with the club pro, Velicka shot 126 and 144 holes of golf, respectively, in just one day. He averaged 70.6 strokes per round and completed each round in an average of just over an hour.

In 2006, Velicka retired from a career in design engineering, marketing and sales in the cosmetic packaging industry. He was the President of Eyelematic Manufacturing Company and he holds numerous patents in dispensing and packaging systems.

Al and his wife Diana reside in Watertown, Conn. They have two adult daughters, Paula and Audrey, as well as two grandchildren, Michael and Julia.
Game Place: Home
Conference Game?: Yes
Game Time: 6/12/2008 1:40 PM
Tags: athletic-news, golf
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Posted by Athletic Media Relations on 6/12/2008 1:40:00 PM

Alumnus Al Velicka Hired as UNH Men's Golf Coach

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Alumnus Al Velicka Hired as UNH Men's Golf Coach

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