Joe Sparhawk returns for his eighth season as the men’s golf coach in 2012-2013. Sparhawk directed the squad to a program-best second place standing at the both the 2011 and the 2012 HCAC Championships.

            He also led the team to third place finishes at both the 2009 and 2010 HCAC Championships. Under Sparhawk's leadership, the Mount has won multiple tournaments that include the 2011 MSJ Invite, out-distancing runner-up Franklin College by 31 strokes, the 2011 Defiance Invite, defeating NCAA Division II Tiffin University by 11 Strokes and the 2009 MSJ Invite, defeating three-time defending HCAC champion Transylvania University by 11 strokes.

            Since the 2010-2011 season, Coach Sparhawk’s Mount golf teams and players have broken many individual and team records including low 18-hole team score of 288 (Fall 2012), low 36-hole team score of 587 (Fall 2012), low 72-hole team score of 1206 (2012 HCAC) and low 18-hole individual score of 66 (Eric Hensler-Fall 2012). He has coached seven of his players on the golf team to tournament wins, Stephen Beamer at the 2012 Wabash Classic, Kenny Brosnan at the 2011 Dick Park Invitational with a score of 78-73, Phil Gilmore at the 2011 Defiance Invitational with a score of 78-68, Nick Barlow at the 2010 MSJ Invite, with a score of 76-77, Dean Kruschinski at the 2009 MSJ Invite, with a score of 70-79, Will Schau at the 2008 Anderson University Fall Invitational, with a score of 74-71 and Chris Lamb at the 2007 College of Mount St. Joseph Invitational I, with a score of 80.

            Sparhawk is a member of the GCAA (Golf Coaches Association of America), USGA (United States Golf Association), and is a two-time winner on the Golf Channel Amateur Tour. In addition Sparhawk is USGTF (United States Golf Teachers Federation) Level 2 Certified.

            In addition to his duties as head golf coach, he also coached for six seasons with the College’s football team. Sparhawk held a graduate assistant position with the Mount for three years, assisting the team’s offense. He was the team’s quarterback coach in 2003 and the wide receiver coach in 2004 and 2005. In 2005 and 2006 as offensive coordinator, Sparhawk helped direct the Lions football team to back-to-back 9-2 records and HCAC championships. He also played quarterback for the Mount from 1997-2000. He is also the College's Recreation and Intramurals Co-Coordinator.

            Sparhawk graduated from the Mount in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree and obtained his master’s degree in sports administration from Xavier University in 2003. He and his wife, Tiffany, son, Jon, and daughters, Ryann and Harper, reside in Cheviot, Ohio.