Joey Marino enters his ninth full year as head coach of the Nova Southeastern men's golf program in 2025-26. The 2022-23 season was one to remember for the Nova Southeastern Men's Golf team, as Marino guided the Sharks to the program's third NCAA Division II National Championship, the first in his tenure.
During the 2024-25 season, Marino guided the Sharks to five top 10 finishes. Bruno Marques finished the season by being named to the Sunshine State Conference first-team and as the SSC Freshman of the Year, the seventh in program history and third under Marino's tutelage. Marques was joined on the first-team by Jorge Berea.
Marino was recognized as the Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year in 2023-24, guiding the Sharks Men's Golf program to three wins and seven top-five finishes in 10 events. The Sharks placed inside the top-5 in all six events during the spring schedule, recording a pair of wins and two runner-up finishes. Marino coached Mike Hay to Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year honors, as well as first-team All-Sunshine State Conference recognition. Hay was joined on the first-team by Joseba Torres and Will McGhie was recognized with third-team honors. NSU was represented at the NCAA National Championships by Joseba Torres, the senior finished in a tie for sixth (-5/69/69/70), the highest among individuals at the tournament.
The Sharks proved their elite status throughout the entirety of the campaign, placing inside the top-10 in each of the tournaments, including winning the Matlock Collegiate Classic in February 2023. Marino guided the Sharks to a top-3 finish at the Sunshine State Conference tournament. The Sharks saved their best golf for the NCAA National Championship, advancing to match play as the sixth-seed. Nova Southeastern bested the reigning national champions, Lee (TN.) in the quarterfinal round (3-2) and defeated Sunshine State Conference Rival, Barry in the semifinal (3-2). The Sharks closed out the programs third NCAA Division II National Championship with a 3-2 win over Oklahoma Christian. After 2023-24 season Coach Marino has 7 Career Wins including a NCAA National Championship. Nova Southeastern Men's Golf posted a 3.57 GPA during the 2022-23 Academic Year.
Following the season, Michael Hay, Josep Serra and Will O'Neill earned PING Men's Golf All-American honors. Additionally, O'Neill and Joseba Torres were recognized as GCAA Academic All-Americans. During the 2021-22 season, Marino led the Sharks to back-to-back wins at the Miami Intercollegiate and McDonough Cup. Javier Calles earned PING All-South Region honors, as well as First-Team All-Sunshine State Conference recognition. Josep Serra was named the Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year and Phil Mickelson NCAA DII freshman of the year. The Sharks placed 8th at the NCAA Super South Region Tournament. Despite an abbreviated 2020-21 campaign, Marino and the Sharks continued the streak of NCAA Regional play. In the process, Marino helped guide Javier Calles to All-America honors, as well as taking home the Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the Year award. Marino was tasked with the challenge of replacing two former All-Americans while welcoming five freshmen and six new faces altogether on the roster in 2019-20. Still, NSU pushed towards a promising future following a pair of Top-5 finishes over its final four tournaments. Freshman Mike Hay closed an abbreviated spring as the team's highest ranked player, while Tomas Millet’s victory at the Saint Leo Invitational - the first of his career – extended the streak to six consecutive years in which a Sharks player had won an individual title. Additionally, off the course, NSU compiled a team GPA of 3.30 – the program's highest to date.
Season Suspended due to COVID19. – no post season play In 2018-19, Marino guided one of the program's top all-time players in Juan Jose Guerra to new heights. Guerra collected three individual wins alone over the course of the year, ultimately being selected as one of 24 collegiate golfers to the 2019 All-Nicklaus Team. Guerra ranked as the nation's No. 2 player for much of the year en route to earning GCAA First Team All-America honors. His 145 birdies in 2018-19 were the most ever by an NSU player in a single season. As a team, the Sharks captured a win at the Miami Intercollegiate along with three runner-up finishes during the regular season, and advanced to regional play for the ninth time in as many chances this decade. Marino was officially promoted as head coach on May 23, 2018 after taking over the role as interim head coach in February of the same year. "Joey is simply the right leader for the Sharks' men's golf program at this time," Director of Athletics Michael Mominey stated. "He's a proven players' coach, who has demonstrated the right characteristics over the past three seasons as our assistant coach to not only maintain the level of success, but will no doubt build upon our tradition of Sharks golf. His background as a great collegiate golfer, his unwavering commitment, his genuine passion, along with his related experience in athletics, will enable him to put his own stamp on the program. We are all excited to see what lies ahead in the years to come under Joey's leadership." During his stint as the interim head coach, Marino helped steer the Sharks to five Top-5 finishes in seven tournament appearances, including an eight-shot win at the Saint Leo Invitational. On Apr. 24, NSU captured fourth at the Sunshine State Conference Championship, the program's best finish since the 2014-15 season, while Juan Jose Guerra clinched the individual conference title in a field that featured five of NCAA Division II's Top-10 players. Originally hired as the men's assistant golf coach back in January of 2016, Marino also worked as an assistant on the women's golf team beginning in the fall of 2017. During his time as member of both coaching staffs, the men's and women's teams have been consistent mainstays among the nation's Top-5, with the women's side taking over No. 1 for much of 2018. Additionally, under Marino's guidance, NSU has earned a combined seven All-Sunshine State Conference awards, four All-South Region recognitions and four All-American selections. "First and foremost, I would like to thank Director of Athletics Mike Mominey and NSU for this tremendous opportunity," said Marino. "I am thrilled to become the leader of a winning program with such rich tradition. As the head coach, I look forward to working with the student-athletes and continuing to guide them towards success both on and off the course." Prior to his arrival at NSU, Marino spent three years at the University of North Florida, where he served as an Assistant Director of Athletic Development. During his time, his various responsibilities included managing the UNF Osprey Club, working with donors and prospective donors, and directing events for the program. Marino was also a four-year letterwinner at North Florida, where he earned 13 tournament appearances including the NCAA Regional Tournament in 2011. Following his playing career, he held a position on the UNF Athletics Department. Marino resides Coral Springs, Fla. with his wife Kristin, daughters Mia, Morgan, Mary and son Joseph.
SOUTH REGION COACH OF THE YEAR 2023
2023 NCAA National Champions
2023-24 Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year
Career Team Wins 11
All SSC team selections 22
SSC freshman of the year 3
Individual SSC championship 2
SSC Player of the year 1
SSC Coach of the year 1
All Americans 15
Academic All Americans 8
National freshman of the year 1
