Report by LBSU

Director of Athletics Vic Cegles announced today that Joey Cerulle has been named the new head women’s golf coach at Long Beach State. Cerulle (Sir-rule) will officially take the reigns of the program on Aug. 3.

Cerulle spent the past year as the assistant coach for the men’s and women’s golf teams at California Baptist in Riverside, Calif. Cerulle was selected to replace Sue Ewart, who stepped down after serving 13 years as the 49ers’ head coach.

“Joey is a great fit for the 49er golf program,” Cegles said. “The combination of his coaching success, local recruiting ties and his relationship with Sue will allow him to successfully lead a program that is already among the best in the Big West conference.”

This past season, Cerulle helped both men’s and women’s teams at Cal Baptist to a pair of NAIA Top 25 rankings. The women’s team achieved its highest ranking in school history as the Lancers were ranked No. 2. Cal Baptist also produced three NAIA All-Americans as the Lancers won the GSAC/CalPAC Conference and finished in third place at the National Tournament. He also coached the highest-rated player in the NAIA (Malin Thorberg). The men’s team earned its first tournament title in program history as the Lancers won at Poppy Hills. They also finished second at the GSAC/Cascade Conference Championship. The Lancers finished the season ranked No. 23 in the nation by Golfstat.

From 2005 to the spring of 2008, Cerulle was the first-ever head coach at Concordia University in Irvine. While at Concordia, Cerulle guided both men’s and women’s teams into the NAIA Top 25. In 2007, the men’s team advanced to the NAIA National Championships. He also coached one NAIA All-American, Gregg Banks and one Daktronics-Scholar Athlete.

Prior to coming to Concordia, Cerulle spent three seasons as assistant head golf coach at nearby St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower. While there, he coached a trio of players that went on to play at the collegiate level.

From 1998-2003, Cerulle was a golf instructor with the Long Beach Junior Golf Association as he taught course etiquette and rules and helped maintain and run the largest junior golf organization in California.

“The opportunity to come back home and to coach at Long Beach State is just tremendous,” said Cerulle. “I’ve known Sue forever as she’s helped me become a better coach and she’s been a mentor of mine as well. You can’t ask for a better Division-I program than the one that has been established here at Long Beach State. I look forward to defending the Big West title.”

Cerulle is a 2004 graduate of Concordia University, earning his bachelor’s in mathematics. He received the Most Outstanding Graduate Award from the mathematics department.

Cerulle and his wife, Sara, reside in Corona and have a six-week old son named Nolan.