Wagner College Athletics

Joseph Ambrose completed his first season at the helm of Wagner's new women's bowling team, who concluded their inaugural season of competition during the Winter 2021 season.

Ambrose was named head coach in December 2019 when the program became the 25th sport and 15th women's sport offered by Wagner.

Ambrose was the head coach for the Kutztown University Golden Bears women's bowling from 2007-2019. During his tenure, Ambrose compiled over 860 wins and led Kutztown to be ranked in the top-25 in the country every dating back to 2008.

On the conference level, Ambrose, a two-time Coach of the Year, has guided two Bowlers of the Year, two Rookie of the Year and over 20 all-conference honorees. On a national scale, Ambrose coached two-time Division II Player of the Year, Kayla Jones, eight All-America honorees and was named the National Coach of the Year in 2011.

In 2011-12, Ambrose led the Golden Bears to its second straight appearance at the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championship, finishing 12th overall in the event.  In 2010-11, Kutztown qualified for the NCAA Bowling Championship for the first time, becoming the first and only Division II program to qualify for the NCAA and United States Bowling Congress national championship in the same year. 

In the program's second year of existence in 2008-09, Ambrose led Kutztown to a 98-54 record, adding to his 44 wins in his first year. The Golden Bears finished the season ranked 11th in the final NTCA poll while posting a 15-3 mark in Northeast Conference (NEC) play in KU's first year competing in the newly formed bowling conference. Kutztown finished as the runner-up in the NEC Tournament. 

Ambrose's team swept the NEC postseason awards, boasting the NEC Bowler and Rookie of the Year. He was named the inaugural NEC Coach of the Year while three bowlers earned all-conference honors, with two on the first team and one on the second team. Kayla Jones was also named Division II Rookie of the Year and was an NTCA second-team All-American. 

Before his arrival at Kutztown, Ambrose managed the Wallenpaupack Bowling Center in Hawley, PA from 1979-2001, where he ran leagues, instructed professional lessons and helped establish the Junior Bowling Program while owning and operating his own Pro Shop. He became a PBA Bowling professional in 1980.Ambrose's extensive bowling career includes five sanctioned 300 games (4 USBC, 1 PBA) and has competed on the regional and national PBA tours, including six PBA national championships and three U.S. Opens. 

He was inducted into the Wayne Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 for lifetime achievements in bowling, golf, tennis, and basketball. Coach Ambrose is also a PGA Golf Professional since 2004 and currently is on staff at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, PA.