Bowdoin College Men's Golf

Jay Durfee was named head coach of the Bowdoin golf program in the summer of 2019. A 1996 graduate of Husson University, Durfee was inducted into Husson's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Following his graduation from Husson, Durfee served as Husson's Associate Golf Coach. Durfee has held Head PGA Professional/Instructor positions at several golf courses in New England and was most recently the Head Golf Coach at Notre Dame Academy and Hanover High School in Massachusetts. Durfee has been named conference coach of the year five times and in 2018 he was named Massachusetts State Golf Coach of the Year.In addition to teaching and coaching golf, Durfee has been a long-time NCAA ice hockey official, working both at the men's Division I and III levels over the last 20 years. "I am extremely humbled, honored and excited to be named the next head coach of the Bowdoin College men's golf team," said Durfee. "I can't thank Athletic Director Tim Ryan and the search committee enough for such an amazing opportunity. Words can't describe how happy I am to be able to work with these student athletes to help them reach their full potential on the golf course, in the classroom and prepare them for the next stage of their lives. I cannot wait to get started!" 

Fortson was named the Bowdoin head squash coach in 2000. Since then, he has guided the Polar Bears to outstanding heights, ranking among the best in the country in both men's and women's squash. Twice the Polar Bears have brought home hardware from nationals, with the women claiming the Kurtz Cup in 2003 and the men earning the Summers Division Championship in 2011. Fortson's team was also award the Sloane Sporstmanship Award at the conclusion of Team Nationals in 2013. Prior to Bowdoin, Fortson was the general manager of both The Albatros and The Britania, two tennis/country clubs in Toluca that served over 2,400 members. He was responsible for the total operation of each club which included an average of 80 employees. Before taking the club jobs, Fortson was the head boy's squash coach at the Groton (Mass.) School in 1998, where he led his team to a fifth place finish at the New England Interscholastic Tournament while also being presented with the "Small School Award". Prior to his stay at Groton, Fortson spent 11 years as a squash professional at various clubs throughout the nation. He started his professional experience in 1986 at Club LaRaquette at the Parker Meridien Hotel in New York City. He created, developed and managed the new squash program, expanding it from 10 to 100 participants with just two courts. At the conclusion of his three-year stint at Club LaRaquette, Fortson assumed the role of head squash professional at The Squash Club in Boston. During his seven years there he helped build The Squash Club into one of the premier clubs in the area. He created the first-ever professional tournament to be held at the venue while also overseeing all aspects of running the club from day-to-day. Fortson spent a year working for The Green Valley Athletic Club in Las Vegas before joining Groton in 1996. As a player, Fortson became a professional hardball player in 1985 and through the mid-90's consistently held a top 30 world ranking. In hardball he was a finalist in the World Professional Squash Association Teaching Pro Championships and was the United States "B" Hardball Champion in 1981. Fortson has also won the Venezuelan National Softball Championship three times, the Massachusetts State Softball Championship twice and the Southern Caribbean Softball Championship.