Steve Napoli is in his 10th year at the College of the Holy Cross and his fifth season as the Director of Golf. Napoli has led the men’s program for 11 seasons and is in his fifth season as the head of the women’s program.
Under Napoli’s leadership, the Crusader men’s squad has totaled eight All-Patriot League selections. In addition the two programs have combined for 30 All-America Scholars and 96 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selections.
During the 2025-2026 season, the men’s team finished in fifth place at the Patriot League Championship, with the top five golfers averaging 75.0 strokes per round or lower. The Crusaders also posted a team total of 276 strokes (12-under par) in the second round of the UC San Diego Invitational, and lowest team round on record in the history of the program.
In 2024-2025, the Crusader men came in second at the Patriot League Championship, finishing just one stroke out of first place. Nolan Schuermann became just the second individual in program history to win the Patriot League individual title, and in addition to qualifying for the NCAA Championship. At the conclusion of the season, Napoli was honored as the Patriot League Coach of the Year, with Schuermann and Ryan Scollins being named All-Patriot League. On the women’s side, Sophie Quinones recorded the lowest round in program history with a 69 at the Bucknell Invitational.
During the 2023-2024 season, Napoli coached the men to a fifth place finish at the Patriot League Championship, with Schuermann and Scollins both earning spots on the All-Patriot League squad. For the women, Phoebe Chamian became the first female in school history to earn Patriot League Golfer of the Week honors.
In 2022-2023, the Crusader women recorded the best Patriot League Championship finish in program history, finishing the tournament at 83-over par (947 strokes). On the men’s side, Schuermann was selected to the All-Patriot League team after placing 10th at the conference championship.
During the 2021-2022 campaign, the Holy Cross men had a pair of All-Patriot League selections, with Christian Emmerich making the first team and Owen Egan being chosen to the second team
In 2019-2020, Napoli was selected as the New England Coach of the Year, in voting by New England’s Division I golf coaches. He led the Crusader men to their first tournament victory against Division I competition since 1998, when they captured the title at the Lehigh Invitational. Napoli’s team also posted three top five team finishes on the season, while improving its individual scoring average from the previous year by over two strokes per 18 holes.
During the 2018-2019 campaign, Napoli coached Joe Egan to second team All-Patriot League honors.
Napoli came to Holy Cross after serving as the director of golf at the Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J. In four years at Liberty National he managed and directed all aspects of golf operations, built an energetic staff of PGA professionals with college interns to provide a high level of customer service and delivered an exceptional tournament program for golfers of all levels. Prior to his time at Liberty National, Napoli served as the director of golf at the Carnegie Abbey Club in Portsmouth, R.I., and the Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, R.I. In addition, he was the head golf professional at the Pawtucket Country Club for eight years.
Napoli was inducted into the New England PGA Hall of Fame in 2013, and was named the New England PGA Junior Golf Leader in 2010. Golf Digest also named him the top teacher in Rhode Island in 2007. In 2003, Napoli was named the recipient of the PGA of America Bill Strausbaugh Award, a national award given to an instructor who excels in mentoring fellow PGA professionals and community service.
As a player, Napoli won the 1999 New England PGA Junior-Senior Championship, and the 1988 Rhode Island PGA Championship. He played with the New England PGA Cup Team from 1990 to 1996, and placed second in the 1992 Rhode Island Open. Napoli was also a quarterfinalist in the New England PGA Match Play Championship in 1983 and 1984, and set a competitive course record of 65 at the Warwick Country Club in 1984.
Napoli graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
