School Technical Ideas

Sam Puryear, who has been the head coach at Michigan State for the past four years, has resigned to care for an ailing family member. Puryear will remain involved with Michigan State in a different capacity, continuing his work with the Spartans’ youth outreach golf programs in Detroit.

“This has been a very difficult decision for my immediate family because Michigan State is a special place, but we know that life is short and the time that we have to spend with our loved ones is precious,” Puryear said in a statement. “I’m tremendously thankful to MSU for the wonderful opportunity, but I feel compelled to be closer to the people in my life who need me the most as a son, a husband and a father, and that’s where my focus lies.”

Puryear’s tenure at Michigan State was highlighted by winning the 2008 Big Ten Championship in his first season at the helm. As a team, the Spartans won six tournament titles.

Michigan State finished this past year ranked No. 141 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.

Chris Baloga has been named the head men’s coach at Loyola University-Maryland.

An accomplished amateur player, Baloga will compete later this month at the U.S. Amateur at Chambers Bay. He also has won several amateur titles around the region, including the Washington Metropolitan Mid-Amateur Championship this summer.

Loyola University-Maryland finished last season No. 224 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings, and won its third consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship.

“I’m ready to come to Loyola and try to take the program forward,” Baloga said in a news release. “I want to take the golf team to new places in the rankings and prominence.”