Mettert brings a wealth of golf experience to the position. He is a longtime participant in area golf tournaments and owner of Custom Golf of New Haven, one of the top 100 club fitters in the world according to KZG. He is certified by the Professional Clubmakers Society as a Class A certified club maker. Mettert played for Indiana Tech and was the MVP for the university’s last golf team in 1977 before the sport was dropped. He graduated in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in recreation management.

A faculty friend at the university first approached Mettert about the possibility of coaching golf a couple of years ago. Mettert said he might be interested, and asked that he be contacted when plans for the team were more definite. About six months ago, he was told the sport would be returning to the university in 2007.

“I consulted with family members and friends, and they all said do it,” Mettert said of making the decision to coach.

Since golf is a spring sport in the NAIA, the team is still more than a year away from competition. But Mettert is already busy with recruiting. The goal is to have 10 men and 10 women golfers.

“I know a lot of the high school golf coaches,” Mettert said, “and I’m already talking to them about some of their seniors, even some juniors.”

Choosing a home course is another item on Mettert’s agenda. The university will talk to local golf pros and golf course owners to find the location that best suits its needs.