TALLADEGA, AL: PGTAA Class "A" Master Teaching Golf Professional and Chair of the Mass Media Studies Department, Dr. Luis Camillo O. De Almeida, is the new men and women head golf coach, Talladega College Athletics announced on May 18.
An announcement from athletic director Kevin Herod confirms coach Almeida's acceptance of the position, in addition to his duties as a college professor and chair.
"This is a great day for the Talladega College and for the return of Golf to our school as a varsity sport. Coach Almeida is a Class "A" PGTAA (Professional Golf Teachers Association of America) certified Master Golf Teaching Professional who brings almost 40 years of golf experience to this position along with specialized training in golf psychology, and as a former head golf coach," in addition to having won numerous open tournaments in his career as an amateur.
Almeida is the first Brazilian in history to be a head golf coach in America. He played varsity golf for Slippery Rock University and before becoming an American Citizen, he represented his state of Rio de Janeiro on multiple occasions and his birth country of Brazil on one occasion in its junior national team. He also played in the Chase Manhattan Cup as a doubles player back in the '90s.
Dr. Almeida has been a member of the PGTAA since 2008.
"Our family is honored and excited to be joining Talladega College's athletic department in addition to being a part of the operation of the academic affairs," Almeida wrote in his personal blog. "I can't wait to represent Talladega College in this new capacity and to build a competitive team."
He lives in Oxford, Alabama with his wife Amanda, daughter Sophia.