With 43 years of experience as a teacher and coach, University of St. Francis seventh-year head coach Tom O'Connor has, without question, one of the most extensive and successful backgrounds in the golf profession.

O'Connor came to USF in the 2003-04 season to replace Donna Wheeler, who stepped down after guiding the Lady Saint program since its inception in 2000.

Since 1997, O'Connor has been the Director of Instruction at his golf academy at Broken Arrow Golf Club in Lockport. Other stops in his career have included Cog Hill Golf Club in Lemont (Teaching Professional: 1989-96), Inwood Golf Club in Joliet (Head Teaching Professional: 1986-88) and the Joliet Golf Center (Director of Golf/Owner: 1976-85).

Besides the state of Illinois, O'Connor, who specializes in the areas of teaching, marketing, merchandising and organizing clinics and golf schools, has also worked in New York, South Carolina, California and Missouri.

Numerous golfers have benefited from O'Connor's knowledge, including five who have competed at the NCAA Division I level. Three others are members of the Professional Golf Management (PGM) Program, two are PGA apprentices, one is a Class A PGA professional and another is on the Mini Tour.

O'Connor also taught Lockport's Drew Pierson, who won the high school state championship in 2000, and Adam Saban, who is ranked nationally on the Plantation Junior Golf Tour.

Among O'Connor's many highlights as a player was the 1996 IPGA Senior Stroke Play title he won at Timber Trails.

O'Connor, a Class A PGA member for 33 years and a Senior PGA Tour Associate for seven years, has been highly visible in the media. He has written a weekly golf-tips article for the Herald News, published articles for Publinks and Player Magazine and hosted talk shows on WJOL 1340 AM and on cable television for Media One. O'Connor also was a frequent guest on Fox Television's weekly Golf Scene show and on ESPN Radio's golf talk program.

For 16 years, O'Connor also served as a WJOL correspondent at the Western Open, and for nine years he previewed the Western Open for Continental Cable.

O'Connor and his wife, Virginia, reside in Shorewood. They have three adult children, Becky, Terry and Jackie.