Bio

In 2018, Joe Downing, Ph.D., and Matt Keller, PGA, started Penn State York’s collegiate golf program. In Fall 2021, two years later, Penn State York golfers won first place at the White Course Invitational and secured second at the Brandywine, Hazelton, and Mont Alto Invitationals. The following year, in Fall 2022, the team won tournaments at Wilkes-Barre, Fayette, and Greater Allegheny and tied for first place at the Blue Course Invitational. The team ranked second at the PSUAC Championship and fifth at the USCAA Championship. Later that season, Dr. Downing’s fellow golf coaches in the conference voted him the PSUAC’s Golf Coach of the Year.

In Spring 2023, the team won the Mont Alto Invitational, which paved the way for more victories in Fall 2023. These included placing first at the White Course and Mont Alto Invitationals (Spring and Fall tournaments), second at the Blue Course Invitational, and third at the PSUAC Championship.

Dr. Downing is a tenured communication professor at Penn State York. He has been at the campus for over fifteen years. Since 2020, Coach Downing has been chairperson of the USCAA’s Advisory Council of Golf Coaches.