Hempstead, NY - Hofstra University Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr. today announced the appointment of Ben Belfield to the position of director of golf. In this role, Belfield will oversee the Pride's men's and women's golf programs.

Belfield comes to Hofstra after spending the past seven years at Long Island University, first as head men's golf coach for five seasons and then as director of golf for his final two seasons.

"We are very happy to welcome Ben to Hofstra," said Cole Jr. "He has a proven track record of success during each of his stops and we look forward to him continuing that with the Pride. In addition to the success he has had, he has shown a passion for player development, which will be a great benefit for our golf student-athletes."

"I am very honored to take over at such a prestigious university and help direct the future of the men's and women's golf programs," said Belfield. "I want to thank Rick Cole Jr., Stephen Gorchov, and Rich Wisor for their belief and support throughout the hiring process. I also want to thank Coach Joe Elliott for his exemplary 18 years of service to Hofstra. Taking over from such a well-respected and honorable man means big shoes to fill, but I look forward to taking Hofstra into the next era with success!"

During his tenure at LIU, Belfield was a three-time Northeast Conference Coach of the Year (2020-21, 2022-23, and 2024-25) and guided his team to three conference championships. He coached three individual NEC champions as well as two NEC Players of the Year and one NEC Freshman of the Year. Overall, his squads posted 17 tournament and individual tournament victories.

Prior to his stint at LIU, Belfield was on the golf staff at Oral Roberts University, serving as an assistant with the men's and women's teams from 2014 through 2017 before being elevated to associate head coach from 2017 to 2019. While at Oral Roberts, Belfield's teams posted nine team and individual tournament victories, won three Summit League Player of the Year awards and one conference freshman of the year award. 

Belfield was the assistant men's golf coach at the University of Denver during the 2013-14 season and was part of a Summit League championship team. He started his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, Northwood University, where he served as head coach of the men's and women's golf teams from 2010 to 2013. His teams won two conference titles and had 16 team and individual tournament victories. Northwood was ranked in the top-15 in both men's and women's golf in the NAIA/Golfstat rankings during his tenure and he was a two-time Red River Conference Coach of the Year.
 
A 2009 graduate of Northwood with a dual degree in entertainment, sports, and promotion management and business management and administration, Belfield was a professional golfer and played on mini tours in the United States and Europe. He earned several top-five finishes on the Tamsel Tour and Players Tour in the United Kingdom.
  
A native of Manchester, England, Belfield currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, Kezia, and sons, Issac,Harrison, and Finley.