COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – After 28 years, Bob Alpers '82 will be relinquishing his position as Saint John's University head golf coach to focus on his duties as the Johnnies' athletic director. 

Alpers has named assistant coach Michael Whitlock, who joined the program prior to the 2018-19 season, as his successor.

"It's tough to let go as a coach, but the last year in particular has made it very clear that our department needs a full-time athletic director, and our golfers deserve a head coach that can be there for them and care for them every day," Alpers said. "I'll be helping and supporting Michael and the student-athletes the best I can this spring, but Michael will be leading the program. 

"I have tremendous faith and admiration for Michael. He is an outstanding teacher, a very kind and caring man, and the guys really love him. We are in excellent hands with Michael."

Alpers started his tenure as SJU's athletic director on July 1, 2016.

He guided the Johnnies to back-to-back NCAA Division III championships in 2007 and 2008, 11 MIAC titles and 18 NCAA appearances. SJU finished in the top 10 at nationals 11 times (14 times in the top 15). Only one school in Division III has more appearances at the NCAA Championship during the last 20 years.

His program produced 33 All-Americans since 2000 and 41 Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Scholar All-Americans since 1997. A Johnnie earned MIAC Golf of the Year honors for the first 12 seasons of the award's existence and 13 times overall during his tenure.

Alpers was named the 2007 Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the Year and was inducted into the GCAA Hall of Fame - the eighth from Division III - in 2010. He was a five-time GCAA Region Coach of the Year and won MIAC Coach of the Year honors 12 times. 

"Each and every day I'm grateful to all the student-athletes, alumni and supporters I've been blessed to spend time with through Johnnie golf," Alpers added. "The players, in particular, have given me so much more than I could ever have given them. It has truly been one of the great joys of my life to be their coach.

"I'll miss my team, but I'm really excited to be able to have the time to help and support the finest coaching staff and student-athletes in the country. I'm grateful for President McAllister for the opportunity."

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area, Whitlock (right) started playing golf at age 15 and turned professional at age 18. He spent the better part of 17 years playing and teaching golf all over the world until 2007. 

"It's an honor to take over a storied program and to have the chance to work and learn from someone like Coach Alpers," Whitlock said. "I look forward to this great opportunity and am excited for our long-awaited competition to start in a few weeks."

Whitlock moved to Minnesota in 2008 and is currently the head of instruction at the Johnnies' home course, Blackberry Ridge G.C. in Sartell, where he helped open a full indoor and outdoor teaching academy in 2021. Whitlock and his wife, Melissa, have three sons and live in Sartell. In their spare time, they foster special needs animals for the Humane Society. 

SJU is scheduled to open its 2020-21 season April 10 with a dual against Concordia-Moorhead at Lynx National G.C. in Sauk Centre. The competition will be the first for the Johnnies since the 2019 Golfweek Division III Preview held Oct. 13-15, 2019, in Destin, Fla., due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Johnnies then hit the road for a pair of meets hosted by Gustavus Adolphus, a triangular April 11 and the Gusties' annual spring invitational April 18-19. SJU hosts its spring invitational April 24-25 and the MIAC Championship is set for April 30-May 2 at Emerald Greens G.C. in Hastings.