St. John's University Men's Golf

Former All-American Casey Vangsness ’14 was announced as the new head golf coach at Saint John’s University on June 30, 2026. Vangsness has served as the lead instructor at Swedberg Golf Academy in his hometown of Alexandria, Minn., since December 2024 and was the head golf professional at Minnewaska Golf Club in Glenwood, Minn., from 2020 to 2024.  Prior to those positions, Vangsness was the assistant golf professional at Minneapolis Golf Club (2018) and at Minnewaska G.C. (2017). He also served as an assistant coach at SJU during the 2016-17 season. During his own career with the Johnnies, Vangsness was a two-time Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-American, the 2011 GCAA Region Freshman of the Year and a GCAA All-Region selection all four years. He was the 2011 MIAC Freshman of the Year and the MIAC Player of the Year as a senior in 2014.  Vangsness is one of only three Johnnies (Sammy Schmitz ’03 and Sam Berger ’24) to finish in the top 10 at the MIAC Championship all four of their years in the program. He is second in program history with seven tournament wins, third with 94 career rounds played and seventh with an .837 winning percentage (a 2,860-555 head-to-head record). Vangsness ended his career sixth in program history with a 74.71 scoring average (and is now still 11th). Vangsness was a member of two MIAC championship teams (2010, 2013) and three NCAA tournament teams: 2011 (third place), 2013 (sixth place) and 2014 (15th). Individually, he finished 36th (+13) over four rounds at nationals in 2011, 22nd (+13) in 2013 and 25th (+12) in 2014. Vangsness became the seventh Johnnie golfer to earn first-team All-American honors in 2013 and was All-American honorable mention in 2014. He has eight professional wins within the Minnesota PGA Section. Vangsness replaces Chris Howe ’99, who left in May after three seasons to be the hockey director for the Fargo (N.D.) Youth Hockey Association.  

Travis Tollette is in his third season as an assistant hockey coach at SJU in 2026-27.  SJU (17-7-4, 10-3-3 MIAC) swept both MIAC titles for the fifth time in program history in 2025-26 with Tollette on staff. The Johnnies won their 10th MIAC regular-season championship and first since 2020, as well as their first MIAC playoff championship (sixth overall) and trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament (seventh overall) since 2013. SJU finished the season ranked No. 15 in the final DIIIHockeyNews.com poll.  A 2013 graduate of Bethel University, Tollette served as an assistant coach for the Royals for five seasons from 2018-23. The Andover native coached at the youth, high school – as an assistant coach at Providence Academy for two seasons (2016-18) – and elite league levels for five years. In 2021-22, Tollette helped lead Bethel to its first MIAC playoff appearance in 14 years and the Royals became just the second team defeat U.S. National Under-18 Team in the last 20 years on Oct. 15, 2022 (4-2).

Alpers is in his 24th season as head golf coach at Saint John's in 2016-17 and started his tenure as the Johnnies' athletic director on July 1, 2016. Alpers has guided the Johnnies to 11 MIAC titles and 15 NCAA appearances, including 2016-17 and the back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008. SJU has finished in the top 10 at the national tournament 11 of the 14 appearances. His program has produced 29 All-Americans and 27 Scholar All-Americans since 2000. A four-time GCAA Eaton Golf Pride Regional Coach of the Year, including 2008 and 2010, Alpers has won MIAC Coach of the Year honors 10 times in his coaching career (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014). A 1982 graduate of SJU, Alpers has played a key role in the overall success of the University's athletic program. In addition to his duties as golf coach, Alpers serves as assistant athletic director and director of SJU's intramural and club sports program. Alpers served as an assistant coach for the Saint John's basketball team for 20 seasons. A standout collegiate athlete, Alpers was selected as the Johnnies' Most Valuable Player during the 1981-82 basketball season. As a coach, Alpers helped lead the Johnnies to two MIAC basketball titles and four NCAA Division III tournament appearances. Alpers and his wife Elli live in Avon with their son R.J. Bob Alpers' Golf Record at Saint John's   Bob Alpers Athletic Director/Head Golf Coach Contact Information Office: The 2007 Eaton Golf Pride National Coach of the Year and 2010 inductee into the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Hall of Fame, Bob Alpers is in his 24th season as head golf coach at Saint John's in 2016-17 and started his tenure as the Johnnies' athletic director on July 1, 2016. Alpers has guided the Johnnies to 11 MIAC titles and 15 NCAA appearances, including 2016-17 and the back-to-back national championships in 2007 and 2008. SJU has finished in the top 10 at the national tournament 11 of the 14 appearances. His program has produced 29 All-Americans and 27 Scholar All-Americans since 2000. A four-time GCAA Eaton Golf Pride Regional Coach of the Year, including 2008 and 2010, Alpers has won MIAC Coach of the Year honors 10 times in his coaching career (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014). A 1982 graduate of SJU, Alpers has played a key role in the overall success of the University's athletic program. In addition to his duties as golf coach, Alpers serves as assistant athletic director and director of SJU's intramural and club sports program. Alpers served as an assistant coach for the Saint John's basketball team for 20 seasons. A standout collegiate athlete, Alpers was selected as the Johnnies' Most Valuable Player during the 1981-82 basketball season. As a coach, Alpers helped lead the Johnnies to two MIAC basketball titles and four NCAA Division III tournament appearances. Alpers and his wife Elli live in Avon with their son R.J. Bob Alpers' Golf Record at Saint John's   Bob Alpers' Golf Record at Saint John's