Oct. 26, 2004

BOCA RATON, FL - John Orsino was named Florida Atlantic's head men's golf coach, taking over a team that returned five starters from the previous year. He brings with him 27 years of golf experience, having started out as an assistant golf professional in 1977 at the Foxcroft Country Club in Miramar, FL.

Prior to joining FAU, Orsino had been a consultant and head professional at the Indian Spring Country Club in Boynton Beach, FL. He previously worked at Indian Springs as the head golf professional, director of golf and director of golf and recreation from 1983-1999. During his time there, Orsino supervised, directed, planned and coordinated operations for the golf, tennis, fitness and swimming facilities and helped institute a nationally accepted "Tee Time" program.

Orsino's work at Indian Spring Country Club led him to become a consultant, and later the Director of Golf, at the Diplomat Resort and Country Club in Hollywood, FL, from 1998-2000. There he planned and coordinated the entire set-up of the golf operation for the new resort, including input on the construction of the golf facility. Before returning to Indian Spring Country Club, Orsino worked as the General Manager and Director of Golf for Cobblestone Golf Club from 2001-2002 and was the head professional at Silver Lake Country Club in 2001.

Orsino was an assistant golf pro until 1980 when he became the head golf pro at Emerson Country Club in Emerson, NJ.

A multi-sport athlete, Orsino played professional baseball for 15 years, eight years in the Major Leagues, finishing with a .249 career batting average with 40 home runs and 123 runs batted in. His best year came in 1963 when he batted .272 with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs for the Baltimore Orioles and was named to the end of season American League All-Star Team. Orsino also played on the 1962 San Franciso Giants team that lost to the Yankees in the World Series. His teammates included Hall-of-Famers Willie Mays, Gaylord Perry, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, and Willie McCovey.

Orsino received a BS in Business Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University.