Matt Beck enters his third season as the head coach for the newest intercollegiate athletic program at George Fox University - men's golf - which took to the links for the first time in the fall of 2007.

Although the fledgling team was only 5-60 against all teams in their first season, the Bruin did finish strong, taken seventh place out of nine teams in the final Northwest Conference standings.  Beck's second squad went 0-34 and finished eighth among eight teams in the NWC.  The Bruins' fortunes are expected to rise in 2009-10, however, with the addition of several talented newcomers to a group of five returning letterwinners.

Beck came to the Bruins after four years as an assistant coach with the men's and women's golf teams at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore.  With Beck as an assistant, the Boxers developed into a strong program that has been very competitive in the Northwest Conference, including three NWC women's championships from 2004-06. 

The George Fox opening was brought to Beck's attention by MaryJo McCloskey, the Bruin women's golf coach who had just completed her first year with the new women's team at the school in 2006-07. 

"MJ and I had known each other for a while, and she first approached me while George Fox was still deciding whether to add men's golf or not, believing it was about time for me to run a program of my own," Beck remembers.  "When the program became a reality, I submitted my information, and now here I am.  To start a new program with a clean slate is one of the most exciting opportunities I can imagine, and I am looking forward to the challenge."

A lifetime Oregonian, Beck is a 1974 graduate of Beaverton High School.  He went immediately into the printing business as a pressman, and then into sales, for Kodak-Polychrome.  He now works for INX International as a technical specialist servicing commercial and packaging printers in the Northwest. 

Beck's father introduced him to the game of golf as a young man, and he has been involved with it ever since.  He spends much of his free time on the course and in the pro shop at his ‘home course', Quail Valley Golf Club in Banks.  "That job enables me to keep up with all the new technologies coming out," he says. 

"This is an exciting time for George Fox athletics," said director of athletics Craig Taylor when Beck was hired, "adding our 15th sport and getting a coach with Matt's experience, skill, knowledge of the game, and personality.  He knows how to get the most out of his players' abilities while making the game fun for the athletes; in fact, some of the best testimonials we received were from parents who told us how much their children enjoyed playing for him.  He relates well to his players and brings out the best in them.  We are extremely pleased to have him join our staff."

Beck currently resides in Hillsboro with his wife Pam and 16-year-old son Marty, where they are members of Helvetia Community Church.  The Becks also have twin daughters, Melissa and Jessica, who are 23, and 19-year-old son R.J.  He and Pam are both enrolled in the George Fox Adult Completion program, with Pam looking to graduate in December 2009 and Matt a year later.  In his spare time, Beck enjoys fishing, camping, and working with the Boy Scouts.