About your golf coach

Neal Grusczynski joined the Army West Point golf staff as an assistant coach in September 2021. This is his second stint as assistant coach for the golf program with his previous time being the 2015-’16 season. “Its an honor to have the opportunity to coach the Army Golf team. I appreciate the trust Coach Bagley has in my family and I to lead our cadet student-athletes in becoming the best versions of themselves on and of the golf course, preparing them in becoming future leaders in our United States Army.” Since Coach Gru’s return he has contributed to victories over Navy in the fall of 2022, and 2023 which led to the largest comeback in the history of the Army Navy golf match taking place at the US Naval Academy Golf Course. At the conclusion of the four ball matches, Army trailed Navy 0-4. Army was able to comeback and tie Navy 5.5-5.5 after the singles matches to force a sudden death playoff in which John Heckel Jr. defeated Ben Valdez to claim the star match. Most recently Grusczynski efforts helped secure a 7-4 win over Navy at West Point golf course in the fall of 2024, bringing his overall career record vs. Navy to 4-1. In the Spring of 2023, Grusczynski contributed to a victory over Navy and Air Force in the return of golf’s Commander-in Chief Cup taking place at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va. In the fall of 2024, Coach Gru lead the Army golf team in retaining the CIC Cup with their second straight victory over Navy and Air Force at Scottsdale National Golf Club. While the Director of Golf at Cardinal Stritch University, both the men and women’s golf programs enjoyed success under coach Grusczynski’s leadership. The men's golf program won the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Championships in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. At the NAIA National Championships, Stritch Men’s Golf finished 14th in 2016, Runner-Up Champions in 2017, 18th in 2018, and 16th in 2019. The Stritch Women’s golf program finished third at the 2016 CCAC Championships and won its first CCAC Championship title in 2017, giving the program its first bid to the NAIA National Championships at PGA National in West Palm Beach Florida. The Wolves saw their student-athletes earn 11 individual wins between the men's and women's teams under Grusczynski's leadership. Grusczynski was involved in all aspects of the golf program during his previous time as an assistant for the Army golf team ‘15-‘16 season. Some of the highlights from that season included coaching the Black Knights to a victory over Navy, and being involved with the Inaugural Bush Cup against Yale, held in honor of former United States President George H.W. Bush at the prestigious Winged Foot Golf Club. The team won the Patriot League Championships in the Spring of 2016. Grusczynski brings diverse experience from the golf world, having spent time working in golf pro shops, corporate golf, collegiate golf, as well as a successful playing career at the amateur and professional levels. Grusczynski's impressive list of accolades includes qualifying for the ’02 and ‘04 USGA Amateur Championships, ’02 and ’04 USGA Public Links Championships, and playing professionally on the NGA-Hooters Tour from 2005-08 with his highest finish being 4th in Pearland, TX. Neal’s lowest professional tournament round is 64 at Barton Creek in Austin, TX. During his mini tour travels, he participated in numerous PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Monday qualifiers, 3-PGA Tour Q-Schools, pro-ams and junior clinics. Neal also has experience caddying on the PGA Tour and on the Symetra Tour (@ROAD2LPGA). Coach Gru continues to keep his golf game and awareness sharp by participating in Metropolitan Golf Association events and USGA qualifiers. Most recently qualified and participated in the '24 and ’23 New York State Open at Bethpage Black, site of the 2025 Ryder Cup. Grusczynski graduated from Xavier University with a bachelor's degree in sport management in 2005. Neal is currently the only XU men’s golfer to have competed in every event all 4 years of his eligibility finishing 9th all time with a scoring average of 74.44. He was Atlantic-10 Rookie of the year and capped off his collegiate career competing for the Musketeers by earning the individual co-champion title with former teammate and LIV professional golfer Jason Kokrak at the 2005 Atlantic 10 Conference Championships at Newport National in Rhode Island. Neal recently acquired his Masters in Higher Education Student Affairs from Liberty University in August 2024. Neal and his wife Leah married in 2010, and live in Cornwall with their two daughters Grace(6) and Edie(5). Fans can follow Grusczynski on Twitter @CoachGRU.