Matthew Steinbach is entering his fifth year as Head Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach at Simon Fraser University. Under his leadership, the program has achieved record-breaking results, won numerous awards and accolades, and has continued to grow and improve every season. In four short years, SFU has won 10 team titles, including the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) for Women in 2017 and 2019 and Men in 2018. Steinbach led the Women’s team to their first ever NCAA Regionals appearance in 2017 and has followed up with Regional appearances with the Men’s team in 2018 and 2019 and the Women in 2019.
Coach Steinbach made an immediate impact at as Head Coach at SFU. A focused structure on player development has led to both Men’s and Women’s teams lowering their scoring averages every year under his guidance. SFU golfers have also won eight individual titles during this time and have received multiple awards and accolades. This recognition includes 4 All-Americans, 6 Academic All-Americans, 3 GNAC Players of the Year, 3 GNAC Freshmen of the Year, 4 West Region Team selections, and 23 GNAC All-Team selections.
This year, Steinbach was named the NCAA West Region Men’s Coach of the Year in addition to being named GNAC Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year. Steinbach was recognized at GNAC Coach of the year in 2019 (Women) and 2018 (Men) as well as the PGA of BC Lower Mainland Coach of the Year in 2017.
Appointed Head Coach of the Simon Fraser University men’s and women’s golf programs on June 16, 2017, Steinbach was promoted from assistant coach to interim head coach of the programs on Dec. 12, 2016, when legendary coach John Buchanan went on medical leave from the University. Buchanan passed away peacefully at home with his family on January 19, 2017 at the age of 77. “It is humbling to know that I was chosen to succeed Coach Buchanan in this role,” said Steinbach. “John meant so much to me personally—as a coach, a mentor, and a friend –and I will forever be grateful for his blessing.”
“Building upon the foundation laid by Coach Buchanan, I believe the strength of our program is in its players. I am focused on attracting the best and brightest student-athletes to represent Simon Fraser University,” Steinbach said. “As Canada’s only NCAA golf program, I am confident that SFU will become the school of choice for Canadian student-athletes looking to combine the NCAA experience with a world-class Canadian education”.
Originally, from Red Deer, Alberta, Steinbach joined Simon Fraser University as a transfer student-athlete in 2002 after playing one year at NCAA DI, Central Connecticut State University. While obtaining his Bachelor of Arts Degree as a Communications Major (2006), Steinbach was a member of the men's varsity golf team at SFU, during which time he won the 2005 Canadian Universities Championship.
After graduation, Steinbach hung up the competitive golf clubs and joined General Mills Canada where he worked for seven years in multiple sales and customer development roles in Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. Steinbach returned to golf in 2015 when he left General Mills and joined the PGA of Canada as a Golf Professional. His first role in the golf industry was working for British Columbia Golf Association in the role of Golf Participation Manager while also serving as an Assistant Coach at Simon Fraser University.
Coach Steinbach met his lovely wife Marta at SFU and they have been together for thirteen years. They reside in Vancouver, BC and they can frequently be found enjoying the city’s many wonderful pitch and putt golf courses.
