Jacoby Golf Staff

Joe Jensen recently completed his sixth season as head coach of the University of Wyoming men’s golf program, and his second year as Director of UW Men’s & Women’s Golf.  It can accurately be said of Jensen that he has directed the Cowboy program during one of the most competitive eras in UW's 66-year men's golf history.  Under Jensen's watch the Cowboys have set school records for low individual round and event score, as well as low team round and event score.

A former member of the UW golf team and a native of Lander, Wyo., Jensen earned his bachelor’s degree in arts and sciences from the University of Wyoming in 1998 and recently completed his MBA, in Dec., 2006.  In addition to his coaching duties, Jensen manages and is the head golf professional at Glenn “Red” Jacoby Golf Club at the University of Wyoming. Jensen, 36 (born April 10, 1970) was hired as the Cowboy golf coach on Dec. 7, 2001 and named Director of Wyoming Golf on Aug. 18, 2005.  He is Executive Director of the UW First Tee Chapter, a nationally recognized junior golf program primarily supported by the PGA and USTA with a curriculum of life skills and golf skills.  

“I’m excited about my role as director of both Wyoming Golf programs,” said Jensen. “We are working hard and I’m pleased with the direction of both the men’s and women’s programs. It's such a privilege to be a part of the Wyoming Athletics program and to bring student-athletes to UW and Laramie. I enjoy working at the school I graduated from, in my home state and in a place where I have so many friends and family.”

Jensen was a member of the Cowboy golf team during the 1992-93 season, but turned professional in 1993, and became an assistant golf pro at the Jacoby Golf Club at UW. During his six years in that position, he was responsible for the daily operation of the course. His duties also included serving as an assistant coach with the golf team. In 1999, Jensen moved to the Pelican Lakes Golf and Country Club in Windsor, Colo., where he was a golf assistant. There he assisted in the daily operation of the golf course and coordinated a number of golf tournaments. He also taught group and junior golf lessons. In addition to his golf club duties, he was a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network and later worked for the Bank of Colorado/Raymond James Financial Services in Fort Collins, Colo.

He has organized the Wyoming-CSU Border Fore Golf Tournament since 2001, as well as the Old Baldy Cowboy Golf Classic. Proceeds from these events are given to charity and used as fundraisers for UW Athletics. Both tournaments have been established as annual events. In 2003, Jensen initiated the UW/Cleveland Golf Cowboy Classic collegiate tournament. The event is held each spring in Scottsdale, Ariz., and hosts many of the top college golf programs in the country. In 2005 Jensen’s Cowboy squad placed second of 20 teams in the event.

Jensen’s teams annually excel in the classroom, as evident the past two summers when Cowboy golfer Dan Silva was named a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar by the GCAA in back-to-back years. During his first two seasons as head coach, Jensen coached All-Southwest Region selection Mike Urbatchka in 2002 and All-America Scholar honoree Kurt Kowaluk in 2003. His teams have also been recognized for their efforts off of the course by winning the Athletics Director Award two times. The annual award, which is based on excellence in athletics, team GPA and community service, was given to the Cowboy golf team in 2001-02 and 2002-03.

Active within the UW campus, Jensen currently sits on the Library Development Board, and serves as co-chairman of the Academic Planning Committee. Jensen’s wife, Chris, is also a UW graduate, earning her bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science from Wyoming. Chris was captain of the UW cheerleading squad her senior season and was the first recipient of “The Spirit of Wyoming Award” in 1997. The award is presented annually to the member of the cheerleading squad who best displays excellence in cheerleading. She also worked for the Cowboy Joe Club while in school at UW.