Jacksonville University Men's Golf

Mike Blackburn returned to head up the men's golf program in the summer of 2023. Blackburn previously served as the program's leader from 2008-19, when he changed roles, allowing for his former player and assistant Jamey Salmon to take over, while he moved into an oversight and fundraising position as the Director of Golf.   "I've enjoyed the last four years as Director of Golf, engaging with our boosters and expanding our base to help support JU golf at a higher level," said Blackburn. "I am honored to step back into the position of Head Coach.   "There is nothing more rewarding for me as a golfer, a teacher and a coach than helping young men reach for their dreams with a golf club in their hands."   Under Blackburn, the program made the NCAA Men's Golf Championship for the first time in program history in 2017. The Dolphins finished top-five at the Louisiana Regional that year to qualify for the NCAA Championship, after a third-place finish in the ASUN Championship that May. That season started with a bang, with the squad capturing the team championship at the Golfweek Program Challenge in Pawley's Island, South Carolina, with David Wicks taking home individual medalist honors and his teammate Raul Perada finishing second.   The season prior, Blackburn coached Wicks to the individual title at the ASUN Championship, becoming only the third Dolphin to win the conference championship and the first in a decade. The team finished second that year and Wicks was joined by teammate Franck Medale in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional. The team won the Donald Ross Intercollegiate in Morganton, North Carolina that fall, led by Wicks and Medale taking home co-medalist honors.   In total, JU won five tournaments under Blackburn's tutelage, with players earning individual medalist honors six times in all in that stretch. The top-four seasons of total birdies and top-three of total eagles recorded in a year all came under Blackburn, and teams he coached also registered the best Par-3 and Par-5 scoring seasons in program history as well.   Eleven players earned All-Conference distinctions during his first tenure, with five more named to the All-Freshman team. In 2017, Wicks was named the ASUN Conference's Player of the Year, just the second JU player all-time to receive the honor. That was followed by Michael Sakane winning conference freshman of the year in 2018. Blackburn also served ina dual coaching capacity from 2008-11, as he was also the women's golf head coach at that time.

Sophie Brandimarte joined Jacksonville University in June 2023 as an Athletic Academic Advisor for Student-Athlete Services. She currently advises Women’s Lacrosse, Women’s Soccer, Softball, Women’s Rowing, and Men’s Golf. Since arriving at JU, Brandimarte has guided her teams to record-breaking academic success. Under her advisement, multiple programs achieved their highest-ever GPAs, including: Women’s Soccer: 2024–25 Academic Year GPA of 3.640  Softball: 2024–25 Academic Year GPA of 3.767, Fall 2024 GPA of 3.758, and Spring 2025 GPA of 3.774  Women’s Rowing: Fall 2023 GPA of 3.535 and Spring 2025 GPA of 3.547  Her teams have also earned national recognition, with Softball ranking 5th in the nation among all Division I programs for GPA by the NFCA, and Women’s Soccer receiving the United Soccer Coaches 2024–25 College Team Academic Award. Before coming to Jacksonville, Brandimarte served at Canisius College as both an Academic Mentor for Student-Athletes and a Graduate Assistant for Tutoring Services. She primarily supported student-athletes across Women’s Basketball, Women’s Lacrosse, Women’s Volleyball, and Swimming & Diving, focusing on academic success strategies such as time management, study skills, note-taking, and goal setting. A former collegiate student-athlete herself, Brandimarte played Women’s Lacrosse at John Carroll University, where she served as team captain during the 2019–2020 season. During her career, she saw action in 39 games, making 27 starts.  A native of State College, Pennsylvania, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Italian Studies from John Carroll University and a Master of Science in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from Canisius College.