Eric Riehle returns to La Verne

Eric Riehle returns to La Verne

LA VERNE, Calif. — Eric Riehle, who led the University of La Verne men's golf team to four SCIAC Championships and four NCAA National Championship appearances from 2009-2012, is returning to the helm of La Verne's golf programs as announced by athletics director Julie Kline on Wednesday.

Riehle will lead the men's program as well as the women's team, which played its inaugural season in 2014.

"I want to sincerely thank Julie Kline, Provost Jonathan Reed and President Devorah Lieberman for the opportunity to return to the University of La Verne," Riehle said. "I feel very lucky to join with the athletic department in our goals to win Championships, but most importantly to impact the lives of the next generations." 

Riehle spent the past three seasons at the University of California, Riverside, where he served as the head men's and women's golf coach in 2012-13 and as the Director of Golf/head men's golf coach the past two seasons.

"Eric is a proven head coach nationally," Kline said. "But more importantly, he is a tremendous individual and team player which makes for a nice fit for our department as this is consistent with our entire team in Leopard Athletics."

In his first season at UC Riverside, Riehle led the men's team to three top-3 finishes and the women's team to a top-5 finish in all but two events. The women's squad also finished in fourth place at the Big West Conference Championship—their highest finish since the 2007 season.

The season prior to his arrival, the Highlanders finished last in the Big West but with Riehle in charge, they finished third in each of the past two seasons.

At La Verne, Riehle compiled a head-to-head division record of 384-71-3 and continued the tradition of success for the men's golf program.

He was named the 2011 Division III West Region Coach of the Year and guided the Leopards to four straight SCIAC Championships. His team finished second at the NCAA Championships in 2009 and placed fifth in 2010 while finishing in the top-15 in 2011 and 2012.

Eight of his players earned All-American honors, with one earning National Player of the Year (Mitchell Fedorka '10) accolades.

Riehle graduated from UC Riverside in 2005 with a degree in liberal studies, focusing in history with a minor in education. He was a three-time All-Big West Selection for the Highlanders, helping UCR to two Big West Conference Championships.

He got his coaching start as an assistant with the Highlanders following graduation, working with the men's and women's teams for two years. Riehle was also the assistant director of instruction at Oak Valley Golf Academy for four years.

Riehle is a Level Three PGA Professional and Level II Certified Golf Fitness Instructor.