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Brad Johnson Named La Verne Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach

Brad Johnson Named La Verne Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach

LA VERNE, CA — Brad Johnson has been named the new University of La Verne head men's and women's golf coach, Director of Athletics Scott Winterburn announced Friday.

Johnson brings to La Verne national championship-winning experience, a multitude of conference titles, and a significant background of building programs into contenders.

Johnson most recently served as the men's and women's head golf coach at New York University where he guided the Violets to their most successful run in school history. He led the women's squad to the 2019 NCAA Division III National Championship, the first national title in program history. The Violets won six tournaments that season including both the University Athletic Association (UAA) and the Liberty League titles for the fourth and fifth-straight seasons, respectively. The squad was led by the 2019 National Runner-Up freshman Arshia Mahant. It was the second straight season that an NYU golfer ended the season second in the nation after Navika Kuchakulla finished as the 2018 National Runner-Up and WGCA National Freshman of the Year while leading her squad to a fourth-place finish at the national championships. In 2017 the squad began its run of top-five national finishes with a fifth-place performance at the NCAA Championships.

On the men's side, Johnson inherited a squad ranked 110th nationally and moved it up high as eighth. Johnson returned the squad to NCAA Championships in 2018 and 2019, the first time the Violets had earned a spot in the tournament since 2008. In 2018 the squad won a program-record four tournaments and captured the Liberty League title for the first time in school history. The team successfully defended their conference title the following season winning the 2019 Liberty League Championship. The Violets continued to roll during the 2019 fall season winning four out of five tournaments.

"We are thrilled to announce that Brad will be leading our men's and women's golf programs into the future," said Winterburn. "He is an accomplished program builder and leader of young people who has experienced success on the course and in the classroom at the highest levels in our division. We couldn't be more excited for both our men and women."

Since Johnson arrived at NYU in 2016, his golfers earned seven All-American honors, nine all-region accolades, 20 All-UAA awards, 25 All-Liberty League recognitions, one Liberty League Player of the Year, three UAA Player of the Year distinctions, four Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors, and one UAA Rookie of the Year award.

Just as impressive at his squads' performance on the course were their achievements in the classroom. The men's squad earned the highest team GPA in the NYU athletics department during the 2019 fall semester and the 2020 spring semester while the women's team picked up the top spot during the 2019 spring semester. His teams have combined for 32 Liberty League All-Academic awards and 31 UAA All-Academic honors.

"I would like to thank Director of Athletics Scott Winterburn and the search committee for giving me the opportunity to lead La Verne's men's and women's golf teams," said Johnson. "The La Verne's golf programs have continued to excel and improve and I am looking forward to meeting the talented young men and women."

Johnson has earned numerous coaching accolades during his career. He was a finalist for the 2018 Dave Williams Award which honors the national men's coach of the year and was named the National Golf Pride Grips Northeast Regional Coach of the Year. At the conference level for the women's squad, Johnson and his staff were named the 2017 and 2019 UAA Coaching Staff of the Year and the 2017 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. He and his staff were also tabbed the 2018 and 2019 UAA Coaching Staff of the Year and 2019 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year for their efforts with the men's team.

Prior to NYU, Johnson served as the head men's and women's golf coach at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi from 2013-2016 where he significantly improved both programs and led the Majors to the most successful era ever. He was the first coach to recruit a full women's golf team and guided the Majors to their first-ever tournament win. During his tenure, the women's squad moved from unraked to 44th in the nation and helped a golfer earn all-conference status. Johnson took the men's team from 80th in the national rankings to 23rd and tutored a pair of All-Southern Athletic Conference golfers.

"I want to thank the previous coaching staff for mentoring and developing a team of talented and conscientious student-athletes," said Johnson. "I am eager to get started and help write a new chapter in La Verne golf history."

During the 2012-13 season, Johnson served as the assistant coach at NYU and helped the squad jump 30 spots in the national rankings from 49th to 19th. That season the Violets posted the lowest scoring average in team history, captured the inaugural Liberty League Championship, and the NYU staff earned Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Johnson also spent a season as the assistant coach at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York where he led the team to a 4-0 spring record and a spot at the NCAA Championships.

Johnson is no stranger to Southern California. He previously served as a golf professional at the prestigious Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades and at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale. He also worked as a certified professional golf coach at Golftec in Santa Monica.

Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism with a minor in English from the University of Northern Colorado and received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.  

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