University of Northern Colorado Women's Golf

Bidne became the third head coach at the University of Northern Colorado to transition from a Bear student-athlete to the director's chair, joining baseball head coach Carl Iwasaki and football head coach Earnest Collins Jr. Bidne, though, took a slightly different route, moving to coaching the women's golf game after spending four years as a standout on the men's team. Bidne took over the duties as the head women's coach after Brandon White left to become an assistant men's golf coach at Colorado. "Brandon has done a great job with recruiting and winning the Big Sky Championship a couple of years ago," Bidne said. "It's kind of big shoes to fill but with the talent and dedication that this team has and because it's a younger team we have a lot of potential for the future. I'm looking forward to continuing the success he started, getting the top recruits and becoming a future Big Sky Champion." In his first season with the women's team, Bidne led the Bears to three top 10 finishes in tournament play. Northern Colorado faced adversity during the Big Sky Championships, losing two student-athletes to illness before the final round. Sophomore Nicole Okada finished with a team-best seventh place finish at the Monterey Bay Invitational with a final score of 239. At the same tournament, the Bidne led the team to a fifth place finish with a final score of 982. Bidne was a three-time America Sky Golf Conference All-Conference selection for the Bears in 2009-11, graduating in 2011 with a degree in business administration. He earned co-Newcomer of the Year honors in the America Sky in 2008 and backed that up with the Player of the Year award in 2010. Throughout his career, Bidne was also a Dean's List selection and captain of the squad all four years. "We feel Stephen is an up-and-comer in the golfing community," Dan Weaver, special assistant to the President for interim athletic responsibilities, said. "He had a stellar career at the University of Northern Colorado and we believe he can continue to grow and develop our women's team into a perennial favorite in the Big Sky Conference." He then went on to play two seasons on PGA Tour Canada, winning four titles and placing in the top five in 13 other tournaments, but realized his true passion for the game of golf lie in teaching. "I learned the ins and outs as a student-assistant coach on the men's program under Chuck Scheinost after my eligibility was up and I wanted to be back in Colorado a state that I love so this is a perfect fit and I'm excited about this season and the future here at UNC," Bidne said. "I had a great time in my four-and-a-half years here and I'm looking forward to being back at such a great university and the great community of Greeley. I'm excited for the talent that the team has and to get the ball rolling. We want to improve every week and come out on top at the Big Sky Championships this spring. I want to thank Wally Goodwin, John Means the University of Idaho coach and a mentor of mine and Chuck Scheinost. They've all helped me get to where I am today and I appreciate all of their assistance." Stephen Bidne Head Coach - Women's Golf Stephen Bidne became the third head coach at the University of Northern Colorado to transition from a Bear student-athlete to the director's chair, joining baseball head coach Carl Iwasaki and football head coach Earnest Collins Jr. Bidne, though, took a slightly different route, moving to coaching the women's golf game after spending four years as a standout on the men's team. Bidne took over the duties as the head women's coach after Brandon White left to become an assistant men's golf coach at Colorado. "Brandon has done a great job with recruiting and winning the Big Sky Championship a couple of years ago," Bidne said. "It's kind of big shoes to fill but with the talent and dedication that this team has and because it's a younger team we have a lot of potential for the future. I'm looking forward to continuing the success he started, getting the top recruits and becoming a future Big Sky Champion." In his first season with the women's team, Bidne led the Bears to three top 10 finishes in tournament play. Northern Colorado faced adversity during the Big Sky Championships, losing two student-athletes to illness before the final round. Sophomore Nicole Okada finished with a team-best seventh place finish at the Monterey Bay Invitational with a final score of 239. At the same tournament, the Bidne led the team to a fifth place finish with a final score of 982. Bidne was a three-time America Sky Golf Conference All-Conference selection for the Bears in 2009-11, graduating in 2011 with a degree in business administration. He earned co-Newcomer of the Year honors in the America Sky in 2008 and backed that up with the Player of the Year award in 2010. Throughout his career, Bidne was also a Dean's List selection and captain of the squad all four years. "We feel Stephen is an up-and-comer in the golfing community," Dan Weaver, special assistant to the President for interim athletic responsibilities, said. "He had a stellar career at the University of Northern Colorado and we believe he can continue to grow and develop our women's team into a perennial favorite in the Big Sky Conference." He then went on to play two seasons on PGA Tour Canada, winning four titles and placing in the top five in 13 other tournaments, but realized his true passion for the game of golf lie in teaching. "I learned the ins and outs as a student-assistant coach on the men's program under Chuck Scheinost after my eligibility was up and I wanted to be back in Colorado a state that I love so this is a perfect fit and I'm excited about this season and the future here at UNC," Bidne said. "I had a great time in my four-and-a-half years here and I'm looking forward to being back at such a great university and the great community of Greeley. I'm excited for the talent that the team has and to get the ball rolling. We want to improve every week and come out on top at the Big Sky Championships this spring. I want to thank Wally Goodwin, John Means the University of Idaho coach and a mentor of mine and Chuck Scheinost. They've all helped me get to where I am today and I appreciate all of their assistance."