by Kyle McRae, Cal Athletic Communications
BERKELEY – There are so many phrases that could describe the relationship between Steve Desimone and Walter Chun. A few that come to mind are father and son, big brother and little brother, the Odd Couple, Pete and Repeat, and Partners In Crime. But the best is probably “Walter and I”, a common phrase used by Desimone whenever talking about anything related to Cal golf.
“If you want a great story this is it,” said Desimone, now in his 36th season as head coach. “I can't tell you how much fun we've had, how many laughs we’ve shared. We’ve had unbelievably great times. I don’t know if there’s ever been anything like this in college golf.”
“Not sure how much he's had to do with it,” Desimone added with his signature sense of humor. “But I guess I’ve got to give him some credit.”
It’s been nearly two decades since the now 36-year-old associate head coach Chun, who was born the same year Desimone took over Cal’s reigns in 1979, first became part of the equation that has provided Cal golf with over a half-century of combined experience with the program.
During his senior year in 1996 at Memphis University School in Tennessee, Chun sent Desimone a resume and let him know he wanted to come to Cal for its mix of school and golf.
“From what I could tell he was a really good student, but I didn’t know if he would be ready to play golf at the Division I level,” Desimone remembered. “But Walter told me he did his homework and said Cal has the best combination of school and golf in the country. With that in mind, it was certainly worth a listen.”
Desimone told Chun to call him in a week and when he did the young Southerner made quite an impression on the Bay Area native.
“I could barely understand a word he was saying because of his Southern drawl,” Desimone laughed as he talked about the Korean American’s accent. “As we got into the conversation and I started asking questions everything was ‘yes, sir’ and ‘no, sir.’ Finally I said ‘Walter, let me get this straight. You want to come to Cal and play golf? Yes, sir. Have you ever been to the San Francisco Bay Area? No, sir. Do you have any family at Cal? No, sir. Do you know anybody at Cal? No, sir. Have you ever been to California? No, sir. And you want to come out here? Yes, sir.’”
Desimone wasn’t sure what to think but he had good instincts about Chun and figured that anyone who wanted to come to Cal that much was worth a look.
“Walter and Des have a great relationship. They complement each other very well. Des is the vocal leader of the team and Walter is quiet, tactical and brings important experience from his own competing golf days.” – Brandon Hagy
That ended up being a good thing because fast-forward to today and Chun is one of the brightest young golf coaches in America.
He’s come a long way since he arrived in 1997.
“When Walter came here he wasn’t very good,” Desimone said with a laugh. “It was pretty bleak. I cut him three times but he always came back.”
Desimone remembered the third time well.
Chun had redshirted his first season at Cal in 1997-98 and when it came time to start the following campaign the head coach wasn’t so sure Chun had what it took to be part of a team loaded with talent. But Chun was persistent that he deserved a spot and the two ended up cutting a deal.
Desimone told Chun to play in the California State Fair amateur golf tournament in Sacramento over the Labor Day weekend and call him Monday night after the event to let him know how he did.
When the phone rang at Desimone’s home about 6:30 p.m. it was Chun on the other end eager to let the man with his future in his hands know that he had shot a 68 in the final round and beaten many good players, including some of his Cal teammates that he was competing with for a spot on the team.
Desimone also remembered what he called Chun’s “immortal words.”
“After he explained how he had done, he said ‘And what you are going to do about that!!??’” Desimone recalled.
In addition to putting him on the team, what Desimone did was also become a father figure for a young man that was over 2,000 miles away from home, something Chun needed at a critical time in his career.
“It was the beginning of my third year at Cal and I had just gotten into the Haas School of Business,” Chun said. “I was having a tough time juggling school and golf, and I told coach Des that I just didn’t know if I could handle both.”
Desimone listened and then gave Chun some words of advice both still vividly remember today.
“Great things happen when you push yourself to the limit,” Desimone told Chun at the time.
“Des has given me lots of different advice over the years but one piece of advice that I have really listened to is that it takes a smart young man to listen to a wise old man,” Chun said. “I told him that I would trust his judgment and give it a shot.”
He did just that and it worked out well with Chun playing in an NCAA Championship and three NCAA West Regionals, while being lauded twice as an All-America Scholar and on three occasions with Pac-10 All-Academic honors.
“That was the turning point not just in my college career but my life,” Chun said.
After his collegiate playing career came to an end in 2002, Chun knew he wanted to stick around at Cal. Following his graduation from Haas in 2001, he began working on his master’s degree that he would eventually earn in 2004 from the Graduate School of Education.
He also bought some time by serving for two seasons as an administrative assistant for the golf program and told Desimone that if there was ever the opportunity to join the coaching staff that he would like to be a part of it.
That opportunity came in 2004 when former assistant coach Gene Bakkum left his role following the team’s national title and the 25-year-old Chun was there ready to pounce on the job.
“Since I had been with the program since 1997 I believed I could draw on my experience at Cal to help the student-athletes in a positive way,” Chun said in his usual manner of thinking about others first.
For Desimone the hire was an easy decision.
“When that opportunity opened in 2004 it was an absolute no-brainer,” Desimone said. “By then our relationship was rock solid. He had the right instincts of what it takes to be a coach and 11 years later it's only gotten better.”
The two had just taken their relationship to the next level and have been side by side ever since as the Golden Bears have reestablished themselves as one of the elite programs in the country, putting together what is widely considered to be the best team in the history of college golf in 2012-13 and setting the NCAA single-season win record in the process while reaching the NCAA Championships each of the last five years and making a pair of appearances in the national semifinals.
Desimone knows what a big part of that Chun has been.
“Walter and I are in this together,” Desimone said using his familiar phrase. “We talk constantly about what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. We’re always looking to find ways to improve and be a better team. What one of us doesn’t think of the other one does. That’s how a good team and a good staff work. He’s been a tremendous asset, ally and friend. I could never say enough good things about Walter.”
Chun also has plenty of good things to say about Desimone and the Cal program.
“With every relationship it is love hate,” Chun joked before becoming more serious. “A lot of the reason why I came to Cal was that in the recruiting process coach Des was like a second father to me. He always takes it upon himself to take players under his wing. I’m forever grateful. He’s given me an amazing opportunity to be at Cal.”
And Chun hopes to remain at Cal much longer.
“Most coaches dream of coaching at their alma mater where their passion is, and I'm fortunate enough to have that opportunity,” Chun said. “Cal golf has pretty much paved the way for my career and coach Des has obviously played a huge part in that.”
Chun has had offers to go elsewhere but has chosen to stay at Cal.
“Loyalty is a big thing for me,” Chun explained. “It's hard to pass up opportunities but I’ve been given so much here. I realize that and I appreciate that.”
Desimone knows that Chun has a bright future but couldn’t resist getting a little dig in first when asked about what that future holds.
“It's very tenuous after this interview,” Desimone joked. “Anything's possible. He may want to polish his resume.”
But the 66-year-old veteran then became more serious and was quick to give his endorsement to the man he hopes will be his successor.
“He’s going to be a phenomenal head coach and I would love to see it happen here,” Desimone said. “He's as qualified as anybody can possibly be to run this program. He understands college golf as well as the culture of our great university and our donor base.”
Still, true to form Desimone went for one more laugh, this time with some self-depreciating humor.
“My career's going to come to an end here at some point and then the program will take quantum leaps beyond where we've been because I'll be gone and hopefully he'll be the head man,” Desimone deadpanned.
If that happens Chun will be sure to still have the “wise old man” on speed dial and no doubt Desimone will be happy to offer his advice.
What They’re Saying
Check out what others are saying about Cal’s long-time coaching duo.
“Walter and Des have a great relationship. They complement each other very well. Des is the vocal leader of the team and Walter is quiet, tactical and brings important experience from his own competing golf days.” – Brandon Hagy
“Des and Walter are like father and son. They seem to have a great relationship and they work together very well on and off the course.” – Max Homa
