The Philadelphia Section PGA, which recognizes golf professionals in the area, named Villanova men’s golf Head Coach Will Reilly the Golf Professional of the Year this past week. He earned the highest of the Section’s honors while working for Twining Valley Golf Club.

The recognition is just the latest of several career awards for Reilly, who is entering his first season as Villanova’s head coach. Reilly earned the award for Section’s Junior Golf Leader in 2003 and 2004, earning the same honor at the national level in 2005. He was again recognized on the national level in 2007, when he was given the PGA President’s Plaque. Reilly had previously been awarded the plaque on the Section level in 2005 and 2006.

Reilly’s work is not limited to Villanova and the Twining Valley Golf Club. He continues to work for many different committees for the Philadelphia Section PGA. In 2006 and 2007, Reilly worked as the head coach for the Mount St. Joseph’s women’s golf program and has been at Twining Valley since 1991. Reilly is a well-known pro in the local community, having been recognized previously for his work as a teacher of the game during his 26-year golf career.

As a player, Reilly is a three-time Pennsylvania state putting champion, as well as a two-time local qualifier for the U.S. Open, one of four major championships in the PGA. In 1996, Reilly was named the Top-Flite East Coast Player of the Year. Most recently, he scored the low in the 2008 Philadelphia PGA Las Vegas Pro-Am.

After leading the Wildcats through a productive fall campaign, Reilly continues to prepare for the upcoming spring season. Reilly has brought in four first-time letterwinners to the squad of 10. This past fall, Villanova finished fourth at the Big Five Championship, a tournament that welcomes 15 schools in total. The Wildcats finished just six strokes off the lead.