SAN FRANCISCO -- Academy of Art University Athletics has announced Deven DeLuca as its new head coach for men's golf. Carrying more than 10 years of golf instruction and 19 years as a golfer himself, DeLuca departs his role as the head golf professional at Presidio Golf Course to helm the ART U program poised to defend its Pacific West Conference Championship.

"While working at Presidio Golf Course, I've had the pleasure of watching Academy of Art men's golf develop and grow stronger over the past several years," DeLuca said. "Taking over as head coach, my initial goal is to work with each student-athlete to better understand their approach to the game. This team already has several great players. My job will be to make sure they've prepared and are ready for competition. I'm very excited to join the team this season."

Working in various roles, DeLuca has been with Presidio Golf Course since 2010. He began as an assistant golf pro for his first five years, managing reservations, merchandising, and assisting with lessons during that time.

In 2015, DeLuca was promoted to director of player development, beginning a four-year stint highlighted by his founding of the Get Golf Ready program which provided group lessons to an average of 60 students per week. In addition to founding and managing the club's PGA Junior League team and writing a bi-weekly newsletter, he was responsible for creating and managing Presidio's social media campaigns which grew to a following of over 9,000 users across multiple platforms.

After logging over 440 individual and group instruction hours in 2019, DeLuca became the head golf professional as well the marketing & social media manager for Presidio Golf Course. He had helped grow membership and participation in men's and women's club events by more than 400 percent by 2020 and was fulfilling duties as the men's club tournament coordinator, a post-game banquet co-manager, and overseer of player assistants, driving range attendants, and outside staff.

Concurrently with his work with Presidio, DeLuca was the varsity golf coach at both Urban High School and Drew High School. He began with Drew from 2013-15 then led Urban from 2015-16.

"Deven DeLuca is a great fit as the head coach of our men's golf team at the Academy of Art University," Jones said. "We are looking forward to him joining our staff and continuing the successful tradition of our golf program."

DeLuca became a Class A PGA Member with the Professional Golfers Association of America in 2014 and is still playing competitively at Northern California PGA events.