USC Photo

Zambri, a former USC All-Pac-10 performer and longtime Nationwide Tour veteran, is in his fourth year as USC’s men’s golf head coach and has led the Trojans to the NCAA Championships in his first three years.

In 2009, Zambri’s Trojans were among the final eight teams playing at the NCAA Championships after they finished third in stroke play. Advancing to the match play portion of the NCAA Championships, USC fell to Michigan, 3-2. The Trojans won two events on the year and had 10 top 5 finishes. Then-sophomore Matt Giles earned PING First-Team All-America honors, marking the third year in a row Zambri’s squad featured at least one All-American first teamer. Giles was also the 2009 Pac-10 Co-Golfer of the year.

After a highly successful 2008 season, Zambri was the recipient of the 2008 Dave Williams Award presented by Eaton Golf Pride as national coach of the year, the Eaton Golf Pride West Region Coach of the Year and the Pac-10 Coach of the Year. The honors came on the heels of a stellar campaign that saw USC finish just three strokes short of winning its first-ever NCAA title. As it was, USC finished third at the NCAA Championships (something Troy hadn’t done since 1975). USC won four tournaments on the season (all within its final seven events), including its first ever NCAA Regional championship. Troy also tied for first at the Pac-10 Championships (but fell in a playoff). Sophomores Jamie Lovemark and Rory Hie were tabbed as PING First-Team All-Americans while junior Tom Glissmeyer and freshmen Tim Sluiter and Giles all earned PING All-America honorable mention honors. It was the first time in school history USC featured five All-Americans. Lovemark and Hie also marked the first time USC had two All-American first teamers in one season.

In his first season as head coach, Zambri guided USC to an appearance in the 2007 NCAA Championships and the Trojans’ 18th Pac-10 team title. At the NCAA Championships, Lovemark, then a freshman, became Troy’s fourth NCAA individual champion. Lovemark earned the Arnold Palmer Award presented by Callaway (national championship individual medalist), Jack Nicklaus Award (national player of the year) and Phil Mickelson Award presented by the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation (nation’s outstanding freshman) and was tabbed a Ping All-American first teamer.

Lovemark earlier became USC’s 20th Pac-10 individual champion while four other Trojans finished in the top 10 en route to the team crown. Lovemark was named Pac-10 Co-Golfer and Freshman of the Year honors while fellow freshman Rory Hie was tabbed a Pac-10 second teamer. On the season, the Trojans posted 12 top 5 finishes and six in the top 2.

Two of Zambri’s golfers at USC have previously played in the Palmer Cup. Lovemark was a member of the winning USA team at Caves Valley in 2007 while Sluiter helped lead Europe to victory in 2008 at Glasgow Golf Club Gailes Links and at Cherry Hills in 2009.

Zambri is married to Kim Zambri and they have three children: Wyatt, 11, Joseph, 7, and Laney, 6.

The Palmer Cup series is even at 6-6-1.