IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa head men’s golf coach Charles “Chuck” Zwiener has passed away at the age of 93.
Zwiener served as the Hawkeyes’ head coach for 32 years (1958-89), which is the fourth longest tenure for a coach in the history of Iowa Athletics. The Iowa City native was inducted into the University of Iowa Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.
Zwiener coached five all-Americans, eight All-Big Ten Conference players, and five teams to NCAA championships, with Iowa placing ninth nationally in 1960. Ten of his teams finished in the Big Ten first division and he had a graduation rate of 100 percent for his student-athletes. He coached 19 Professional Golf Association club pros and six players on professional tour. Zwiener was a two-time Club Pro Player of Year and United States Golf Association’s amateur medalist, while serving as the Finkbine Golf Course professional for 33 years. He was the 1989 recipient of the Iowa Golf Association’s George Turner Distinguished Service Award. An Iowa golf scholarship was named in his honor in 1992.
Zwiener coached and mentored several accomplished players, many of whom went on to have successful careers in the game. Zwiener’s legacy includes: Jack Rule (PGA Tour), Lonnie Nielsen (PGA Tour, Champions Tour), JD Turner (Class A PGA Professional), Gene Elliott (Iowa Golf Hall of Fame), Dave Rummells (PGA Tour), Guy Boros (PGA Tour), and Brad Klapprot (Big Ten Champion).
Zwiener is survived by his wife, Charlotte; his brothers, Bill and Tom Zwiener; his children, Tim, Chris, Dan, Julie, Paul and Laurie as well as 13 grandchildren and eight great- grandchildren.
Private family services with burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery have been held.
