Entering 2022-23 season
Matthew Steinbach continues to guide Simon Fraser to new heights.
Appointed head coach of the Simon Fraser University men’s and women’s golf programs on June 16, 2017, he was promoted from assistant 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”.
Since becoming leader of Red Leafs golf, Steinbach’s teams have achieved record-breaking results, and won numerous awards and accolades, including 14 tournament triumphs.
SFU won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s titles in 2017 and 2019, while the men claimed the league banner in 2018. The teams made NCAA Regional Championship appearances in those same years as well as in 2022 on the men’s side. The 2017 trip to the regionals was the first for the women’s program since it moved to the NCAA.
Steinbach has been recognized as the GNAC Coach of the Year four times. He was the men’s winner on two occasions: 2018 and 2020. Steinbach was the women’s co-winner in 2019 before being selected as the outright honouree the next year. In 2020, he was selected the NCAA Div. II West Region Men’s Coach of the Year by the Golf Coaches Association of America. Steinbach was also the PGA of BC Lower Mainland Coach of the Year in 2017.
SFU golfers have won 13 individual titles since Steinbach became the leader of the programs, have received multiple awards and accolades.
Three have merited the GNAC Player of the Year award since Steinbach became head coach at SFU: Emily Leung (2017 and 2019 – co-winner), Shirin Anjarwalla (2022 – co-winner) and Chris Crisologo (2017 and 2018).
This recognition includes three All-America selections and one honourable mention, eight Academic All-Americans, four GNAC Freshmen of the Year, one GNAC Newcomer of the Year, five West Region Team honourees, and 29 GNAC All-Team selections.
Originally from Red Deer, Alta., Steinbach joined Simon Fraser University as a transfer student-athlete in 2002 after playing one year at NCAA Division I, 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. They reside in Vancouver, and they can frequently be found enjoying the city’s many wonderful pitch and putt golf courses.
