The University of Tulsa announced Monday it was reinstating its men’s golf program after a nine-year hiatus. The program, which was discontinued following the 2015-16 season, will begin play starting in the fall of 2026.
Tulsa athletic director Justin Moore says a national search for a head coach is underway.
“We are thrilled to be able to bring men’s golf back to the University of Tulsa in a city and region recognized for its passion for the game and home to some of the nation’s best golf courses,” Moore said in a release. “The generosity of our donors – including several alumni who first established the legacy of Tulsa men’s golf – has allowed us to bring the program back and compete immediately for championships.”
Per the release, a transformational leadership gift was made by Tulsa alumni Sharon D. Prince and Robert P. “Bob” Prince, who was a member of the men’s golf team during his time at Tulsa. Additional support for the relaunch of the program was provided by the H.A. & Mary K. Chapman Foundation, Al Walker, Mark Marra and Don Quint Jr.
Tulsa has been to the NCAA Championship 10 times in school history, with seven of those trips under former coach Bill Brogden, who led the Golden Hurricane for 30 years until the program was eliminated.
“Sharon and I are thrilled to help establish an endowment for men’s and women’s golf at TU,” Bob Prince said. “Given the rich tradition of golf at TU and the support of the community, wouldn’t it be great to have women’s and men’s golf take the NCAA title in the same year?”
“Thanks to a lengthy team effort and the immense generosity of certain alumni donors, the University of Tulsa’s men’s golf program has been re-established!” said Marra, a member of the University of Tulsa Board of Trustees. “With the continued support of the Tulsa golfing community, the program will be competing for championships in no time!”
The news may come as surprising to some, especially in an era of college athletics when many golf programs are worried about their future. Just last month, Stephen F. Austin announced it was eliminating its golf programs immediately.
The Tulsa women’s team has had plenty of success in recent years, including trips to the NCAA Championship in 2023 and 2024.
And starting next fall, the Tulsa men’s program will return and become the 12th men’s team competing in the American Athletic Conference.
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