SFU Players Shocked, Saddened By Sudden Departure Of Head Coach Matthew Steinbach
Team Members Pleased Former Assistant Krysta Schaus Has Been Appointed Interim Head Coach
By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf
BURNABY, B.C. (September 05, 2024) - It was the first meeting of a new season for members of the men’s and women’s golf teams at Simon Fraser University and the message their coach delivered to them left the players in a state of shock.
Instead of the pre-season pep talk many expected, head coach Matthew Steinbach informed the players that after eight successful years leading the SFU golf program, he was stepping down.
The players were stunned by the news, which was delivered just a couple of days before classes for the new academic year started at the Burnaby campus.
“It definitely was not something that I thought was going to come during the team meeting,” said Burnaby’s Denby Carswell, who is heading into his third year with SFU’s men’s team. “I think the whole team was pretty shocked by it.”
“It was definitely a shock to a lot of us when he announced that he was leaving,” added second-year women’s team member Dana Smith of Campbell River. “We are a little sad that he is leaving, but ultimately we are all happy and proud of him to pursue something he really enjoys and is interested in.”
Steinbach told his players he is leaving to pursue a Master’s degree in Psychology of Sport at the University of Stirling in Scotland. “In my pursuit to become the best coach possible and in my commitment to supporting student-athletes in sport and life, the time is right for me to grow in my professional career,” Steinbach told British Columbia Golf.
“I am incredibly grateful for my time at SFU and I am proud of the accomplishments that the golf program has contributed to the rich history of our athletics department. SFU has always been a great source of pride for me, and I am confident that the athletics program will continue to grow and reach its full potential.”
Assistant coach Krysta Schaus, who joined the program last fall, was named interim head coach. The timing of Steinbach’s announcement was curious as both teams begin their fall schedules later this month.
It seems the short notice of Steinbach’s departure was done in part to ensure a smooth transition for Schaus. “I wouldn’t have felt comfortable leaving SFU Golf without knowing that Krysta Schaus would be named as my successor,” Steinbach said. “With her proven track record of NCAA coaching and commitment to excellence, I am confident the SFU Golf program is in good hands.
“The short notice of my departure was necessary to ensure a smooth transition and the well being of our golf program. I’m very grateful I had the opportunity to share this exciting news with our student-athletes in person, once everyone had returned to campus at the beginning of September.”
The news that Schaus was being promoted to interim head coach was welcomed by the SFU players. Former SFU player Scott Kerr was also named assistant coach. “We all think Krysta is going to do a great job with Scott alongside her as assistant coach,” said Smith.
“We think the program is going in a really good direction. . .Krysta has been such a great addition to SFU. When she came in last year she fit in so seamlessly. Everything just felt really comfortable when she was travelling with us last year and with her background in coaching and playing in Division II golf, she knows the ropes and is very knowledgeable. We have been very lucky to have her on board.”
Schaus, a native of Fredericton, N.B., played NCAA Division II golf at Erskine College in South Carolina, where she had four individual wins. Before joining SFU, she worked as an associate professional at Toronto Golf Club and as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina.
“I got to know her pretty well last year,” Carswell said of his new head coach. “She was at a lot of our practices and had an opportunity to travel with us a lot in the spring. I think she is going to be great. She has coaching experience before and is well-suited for both teams. I am looking forward to see what she will bring to the program. It’s obviously going to be hard to match what Matt has done for the past eight years, but Krysta definitely seems up for the challenge.”
Schaus will have to hit the ground running. The SFU women open their season Sept. 20-21 at the Saint Martin’s University Grisham Memorial Shootout in DuPont, Wash. Right after that, the SFU men and women are playing host to the SFU True North Classic, which goes Sept. 23-24 at Riverway Golf Course in Burnaby.
Schaus could not be reached for comment, but in a SFU news release she said it was “an honour to lead Canada’s only NCAA golf program. I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by Coach Steinbach and Coach (John) Buchanan.”
Steinbach, who also played collegiate golf for SFU, amassed an impressive list of accomplishments during his eight-year tenure as head coach. Among the highlights:
- 19 team wins (10 women, nine men)
- Five conference championships
- Seven NCAA Division II Championship appearances
- Seven Academic All-Americans, 19 Academic Conference Team
- Four All-Americans, seven West Regions Team, 45 Conference Team
- Five Conference Player of the Year, Five Conference Freshmen of the Year
- Six Great Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the year
- 2020 Men’s West Region Coach of the Year
- More than $250,000 raised for the John Buchanan Endowment for Golf through the annual memorial golf tournament