Coach Thurston To Revive Moorpark Women's Golf Program
Moorpark College has reinstated the women's golf program that was suspended in 2008 during the state budget crisis. The team will begin competition in the fall.
"Reinstatement of women's golf serves several critical purposes," said Athletic DirectorHoward Davis. "First and foremost, female golfers in
Ventura County will once again have a place to compete. For seven years, female golfers were forced to leave the county to continue their golf careers. It's great to end that."
The nearest community colleges that offer women's golf are Santa Barbara City and College of the Canyons. Moorpark College will be placed in the Western State Conference, as it is in other sports.
The reinstatement of women's golf will also assist Moorpark College Title IX compliance. In a April, 2014 complaint to the Office of Civil Rights, Moorpark College was one of ten California colleges and universities that were named as out of Title IX compliance due to the suspension of a viable women's sport program. "It will definitely be nice to get off that list, and on a path to Title IX compliance," said Davis
Former head football coach, who has also served stints as head men's and head women's golf coach, Will Thurston, will guide the program.
Thurston, a former MC gridiron star, has been head football coach since midway through the 2011 season, when long-time football coach Jim Bittner retired. Thurston has led the program since then. Thurston was the women's golf coach when the program began in 2000. He coached that program for three seasons. He was also the men's golf coach from 2001-2009.
"Coach Thurston is our golf expert and we hoped that we would be able to return him to golf one day," said Davis. "He was a true team player when he agreed to take over the football program. We appreciate his hard work and many positive attributes he brought to the program."
The reinstatement also makes financial and educational sense. Adding five to eight full-time students will also generate additional revenue to the college. The revenue generated will more than pay for expenses. Beyond that, data shows that student athletes succeed academically and complete their degrees at a higher rate than non-athletes.