Penn State men’s golf has a new leader at the helm.

Former Penn State golfer Mark Leon was named the program’s head coach Thursday morning.

A former Nittany Lion standout returns home to Happy Valley

We are thrilled to announce Mark Leon as the next head coach of the Penn State men's golf team: https://t.co/eSYlBfRPXs#WeAre pic.twitter.com/g2miZFb347

— Penn State Men’s Golf (@PennStateMGolf) June 9, 2023

Leon will enter the role following former head coach Greg Nye’s retirement after 31 years.

Leon is returning to his alma mater after a storied career as a Nittany Lion from 2001 to 2005. Leon was a GCAA All-American, GCAA All-Region, and an All-Big Ten selection. During the 2004 season, he led Penn State to the NCAA Finals and tied for sixth individually, which is still an all-time program record.

“Coming to Penn State in 2001 was the best decision I ever made, and having the chance to be named the head coach 22 years later is truly the greatest honor of my life,” Leon said in a release. “I believe in this place and what it does for young people. I cannot believe that I have the opportunity to continue to share this journey with new generations of student-athletes and families. We Are!”

After a four-year stint on the Canadian Tour, Leon entered the coaching sphere. He started as an assistant coach under coach Nye with Penn State from 2011 to 2017. Leon then took a job at the University of Florida until 2021 before transitioning to the head coach at Florida Atlantic University.

Penn State men’s golf closed its season with a second-place finish at the National Golf Invitational in Maricopa, Arizona.