Joseph Ambrose enters his 12th year as the Kutztown University women's bowling coach in 2018-19.
Ambrose, the 2016 East Coast Conference (ECC) Coach of the Year, has led the Golden Bears to being ranked in the top-25 in the country every year dating back to 2008. KU's high-water mark was sixth at the end of the 2010-11 season, and the team didn't drop lower than 18th for a nine-year period.
In his 11 years at the helm of the Golden Bears, Ambrose holds a 789-557 (.586) career record. KU has sealed a winning season in 9-of-11 years, including a program-record 100 wins in 2010-11.
On the conference level, Ambrose, a two-time Coach of the Year, has guided two Bowlers of the Year, two Rookies of the Year and 21 all-conference honorees. On the national level, Ambrose coached two-time Division II Player of the Year, Kayla Jones, eight All-America honorees and was named the National Coach of the Year in 2011.
Kutztown embarked in its inaugural season in the ECC in 2015-16. It was the top-seed at the ECC Championships and finished as the runner-up. KU donned the ECC Bowler of the Year, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year and five All-ECC selections.
KU has gone on to qualify for the ECC Championships each of the last three years, including 2018.
In 2011-12, Ambrose led the Golden Bears to their second consecutive appearance at the
United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Championships, finishing 12th overall in the event.
In the 2010-11 season, the Golden Bears qualified for the NCAA Bowling Championships for the first time. KU also competed in the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships for the first time, before ending their season with an overall record of 100-40 and 18-9 in conference. In addition, the Golden Bears were the first and only Division II program to qualify for the NCAA and United States Bowling Congress national championships in the same year.
The program's second year in 2008-09, Ambrose led the Golden Bears to a 98-54 record, adding to his 44 wins in his first year. The Golden Bears finished the season ranked 11th in the final NTCA poll. Ambrose led the Golden Bears to a 15-3 NEC record in KU's first year competing in the newly formed bowling conference. The Golden Bears finished as the runner-up in the NEC tournament.
KU swept the NEC postseason awards, boasting the NEC Bowler of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Ambrose was named the bowling league's first NEC Coach of the Year. Three bowlers earned all-conference honors, with two on the first team and one on the second team. Kayla Jones was also named Division II Rookie of the Year and was an NTCA second team All-American.
In his first year, Ambrose led KU as an independent to a 44-59 record. He coached the Division II Rookie of the Year in Kayla Stamm.
Prior to KU, Ambrose managed Wallenpaupack Bowling Center in Hawley, Pa., from 1979-2001, where he ran leagues, instructed professional lessons, helped establish the Junior Bowling Program and owned and operated his own Pro Shop. Ambrose’s bowling career includes five sanctioned 300 games (4 USBC, 1 PBA), and he has competed extensively on the regional and national PBA tours, including six PBA national championships and three U.S. opens.
In addition to being a PBA Professional, Ambrose is the Head Professional at Great Bear Golf Club in East Stroudsburg, Pa.
In July 2008, he became a PGA Class-A professional. He passed his PGA playing ability test in 2004. Ambrose also is president/coach of Lake Region Kids In Sports Programs, a non-profit organization for AAU Basketball. He has also coached baseball and tennis at the junior and high school level, and has taught golf lessons at both Lake Mohawk GC and Paupack Hills Golf & Country Club.
Ambrose was inducted into the Wayne Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 for lifetime achievements in bowling, golf, tennis, and basketball. He lives in Greentown, Pa., with his wife, Diane, and their 28-year-old son, David.
| Year |
School |
W |
L |
Pct |
Notes |
| 2007-08 |
Kutztown |
44 |
59 |
.427 |
|
| 2008-09 |
Kutztown |
98 |
54 |
.645 |
Inaugural NEC Regular Season Champions: NEC Tournament Runner-Up |
| 2009-10 |
Kutztown |
61 |
58 |
.513 |
NEC Quarterfinals |
| 2010-11 |
Kutztown |
100 |
40 |
.714 |
NCAA National Championships, USBC National Semifinalist* |
| 2011-12 |
Kutztown |
69 |
46 |
.600 |
USBC National Quarterfinals |
| 2012-13 |
Kutztown |
79 |
43 |
.648 |
USBC National Semifinalist |
| 2013-14 |
Kutztown |
80 |
51 |
.611 |
USBC National Semifinalist |
| 2014-15 |
Kutztown |
58 |
52 |
.527 |
NEC Tournament |
| 2015-16 |
Kutztown |
73 |
46 |
.613 |
ECC Runner-Up |
| 2016-17 |
Kutztown |
55 |
63 |
.466 |
|
| 2017-18 |
Kutztown |
72 |
45 |
.615 |
|
| Totals |
|
789 |
557 |
.586 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* only Division II team to ever do that in same season |
