Loyola University New Orleans Athletics Director Brett Simpson announced the hiring of Cory Amory as the new Wolf Pack men’s and women’s golf coach Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, elevating Amory’s status from the programs’ assistant coach. Amory takes over for former coach Drew Goff, as he worked as Goff’s assistant during the fall schedule.
In his first season with the Wolf Pack, albeit a partial one, Amory led the women’s team to two team tournament wins and the men’s team to one. The men’s tournament win at the Wolf Pack Invitational was the first for the program since 2017, and their second-place finish at the SSAC Championship was the best finish for the program as well. On the women’s side, the Wolf Pack placed fifth at the NAIA National Championship, which is also a program-best. Four members of that team (Madison Bates, Alejandra Bedoya Tobar, Emma Smithers and Callee Breland) were named to the SSAC All-Conference Team, as well Breland, Daniella Salazar, Logan Peterson and Sebastian Salazar on the SSAC Scholar-Athlete Team.
In his second year, Amory led the Wolf Pack women's team to their fifth straight NAIA National Championship, and the second in as many years for the second-year head coach. Entering the championship ranked No. 12 in the NAIA, Loyola placed 14th at the PGA Tour's TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, which makes it four straight years Loyola has been in the Top 15. Also for the third straight year, four members of the women's team were named to an All-Conference team, as Catherine Singletary, Lainey Cristan, Blair McKenzie and Smithers were all placed on the SSAC All-Conference Second Team. The women's team led the SSAC Championship after 36 holes, too, and finish second behind No. 2 Dalton State. Including the conference championship tournament, six second-place performances out of the nine tournaments this season. On the men's side, Arthur Mijic earned his first career individual medalist honor while also being named to the SSAC All-Conference Second Team, and the men's team led the league with eight on the All-Academic Team.
Amory led the Wolf Pack’s women’s team to their sixth straight-year NAIA National Championship in his third season, and the third straight since Amory took over the program. The streaks continue, too, as this season was the fifth straight year in the Top 15 of the national tournament leaderboard, finishing 13th, and it's the fourth straight year with four being named to an SSAC All-Conference Team. McKenzie, Singletary, Smithers and Cristan were all named to the league’s All-SSAC Second Team, and Smithers earned SSAC Championship All-Tournament honors as well. McKenzie also received NAIA All-America Third Team honors, marking the second All-American coached by Amory. The women’s team also won three team titles this season, giving Amory four team wins because the men’s team won a tournament, too. The women’s team placed second at the SSAC Championship for the second straight year, and the men’s team took sixth.
Amory brought the Wolf Pack women’s golf team to their seventh straight NAIA National Championship during his fourth season at Loyola. The team finished the season No. 17 in the NAIA, and it appeared in the NAIA Top 25 all season long, culminating in the program’s 53rd straight appearance in the rankings. The team had three finish the season in the NAIA Top 100 of the individual rankings, as Singletary ranks 41st in the NAIA, Sarah Meral is 53rd and McKenzie sits 69th. Singeltary became the program’s sixth NAIA All-American with a Third Team nod, and she was named the SSAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Meral was chosen as the SSAC Newcomer of the Year, while all three earned SSAC All-Conference honors. Aaliyah Achary was also picked to the SSAC All-Freshman Team.
The women’s team also won three team titles this season, bringing the program’s total to 16 since they started competing in 2014.
Amory inherited a Top-10 nationally ranked women’s golf program, led by three NAIA All-Americans and five All-Conference selections, as well as a rising men’s program that competed well in the fall. The two teams are set to resume competition Monday, Feb. 21, at the Ram Invitational in Mobile, Alabama.
“I am thrilled to be selected to lead these teams and thankful to the administration and everyone on the hiring committee for their confidence in me,” Amory said. “I have had the privilege to work with Coach Drew Goff, and he has done an incredible job building this program and making these teams feel like a family. I want to thank all of the student athletes for their support through this process. Their commitment to strive to be their best as students, athletes, and people makes it an honor to be their coach. I am beyond excited for the opportunity and can’t wait to see what lies ahead.”
Amory was hired by Goff last fall and the first-year assistant ran practices, managed qualifying and team challenge reports, and helped create a culture within the two teams that saw many new faces enter the programs.
Prior to Loyola, Amory established the Cory Amory Golf Academy at Lakewood Golf Club, where he built and maintained a client base of more than 200 students while coordinating a junior golf program. He also served as an Assistant Golf Professional at New Orleans Country Club (2018-2020), Lakewood Golf Club (2014-2017) and The Country Club of Virginia (2012-2013). At those positions, he performed duties such as running tournaments, trained and managed staff and he conducted golf lessons, among other duties. Amory also held the position of General Manager and Head Golf Professional at The Flagstick from 2017-2018, took the lead on establishing and maintaining all business accounts, as well as partnerships and sponsorships with local businesses.
Amory attended East Carolina University on a full golf scholarship, where he was an Academic All-American, before earning his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Virginia in 2012. Cory and his wife, Annie, have called New Orleans home since 2014 and feel very fortunate to welcome their first child, Jack, in January 2022.
