Brad McMakin Named as UA Golf Coach

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Brad McMakin has been named as the University of Arkansas men’s golf coach it was announced by UA athletic director Frank Broyles on Thursday. With his appointment, McMakin becomes the 13th head coach in the UA golf program’s history.

McMakin recently completed his 10th season as a collegiate head coach at Lamar University by leading the Cardinals to a ninth-place finish at the 2006 NCAA Golf Championships. Last season, Lamar won an NCAA-best seven tournaments in 13 events and placed two golfers in the top 10 individual finishers at the NCAA Championships.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to be a part of the Razorback program,” McMakin said. “I’m fortunate to have the chance to work at the University of Arkansas and am honored to work for Coach Broyles. My goal is to win Southeastern Conference championships and compete for national championships. With our outstanding facilities and tradition, we have the resources to be successful.”

After arriving at Lamar, McMakin revitalized the program and returned it to the top of the Southland Conference (SLC) and back onto the national scene. In his decade at the helm, Lamar won five SLC championships, made six-consecutive NCAA Central Regional appearances and earned its first trip to the NCAA Championships (2006) since 1986. In the last six seasons, the Cardinals have had three players earn All-America honors, three golfers capture SLC individual medalist honors, 21 all-conference performers, a newcomer of the year, three freshmen of the year and the conference’s only four-time player of the year.

“We are extremely pleased that Brad has joined our golf program,” Broyles said. “As I talked to people around the nation about our position, his name came up over and over again as one of the top young coaches in collegiate golf. He is a great teacher and is committed to winning at the conference and national levels. I’m confident that with the addition of Coach McMakin combined with our first-class facilities, we will attract some of the best student-athletes in the country.”

A native of Beaumont, Texas, McMakin was recently named the Eaton/Golf Pride South Central Region Coach of the Year after leading his squad to a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships and a fifth-place showing at the NCAA Central Regional. The Cardinals captured their 20th Southland Conference championship and placed all five players on the all-conference team. McMakin was also tabbed as the SLC Coach of the Year for the fifth time (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006) in his 10-year stint at Lamar.

The Cardinals made their fifth-straight NCAA Central Regional appearance in 2005 at Warren Golf Club in South Bend, Ind. Lamar finished in 12th place, missing out on advancing to the NCAA Championships by one stroke. Lamar repeated as SLC champion in 2002, the school’s 18th title, receiving the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Central Regional in Little Rock, Ark. The Cardinals tied for 17th place in their third regional appearance in school history.