INDIANAPOLIS — Former Wagner women's bowling head coach Joe Ambrose has been named the NCAA's secretary rules editor and national officials coordinator.
Ambrose was the inaugural head coach for Wagner's program, hired in December 2019 as he took the helm for what became the Seahawks' 25th intercollegiate sport and served in that role through 2023. A member of the Professional Bowlers Association for more than 40 years, Ambrose also started a women's bowling program at Kutztown University before he took over at Wagner. Serving as the Golden Bears' head coach from 2007-2019, Ambrose finished with over 860 wins and was named conference Coach of the Year on two occasions.
Taking over from current secretary-rules editor Michael Fine, Ambrose will begin his position on Sept. 1, 2027. While working at Kutztown, Ambrose also served on the NCAA's Women's Bowling Committee from 2011 through 2014.
"I have big shoes to fill following the only other two who have held this position in Ron Holmes and Mike Fine," Ambrose said. "NCAA bowling has only existed since 2004, and I have been involved with it since 2007. I believe my experience as a two-sport professional, running events in both sports, and my career as a head official, event manager and rules official for the PGA and USGA will really help me to do this job to the best of my ability. I look forward to this opportunity, and I am very grateful to the NCAA for trusting me with it."
In addition to his various positions in the collegiate bowling sphere, Ambrose has also been a PGA professional for 24 years and brings a wealth of experience from the golf world.
Building on the foundation Ambrose built, Wagner will begin its season in winter 2026 under newly-named head coach Ian Parisi.
