May 25, 2014
Hutchinson, Kan. – Georgia Tech head golf coach Bruce Heppler has been named one of five Division I finalists for the Dave Williams National Coach of the Year Award presented by Eaton Golf Pride have been announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
Heppler, in his 19th season at the helm of the Tech golf program, has guided the Yellow Jackets to a No. 2 national ranking (Golfweek/Sagarin Index) this year with six tournament victories, the most since the 2001-02 team won seven events and was the runner-up for the NCAA Championship. That was also the year Heppler won his only national coach of the year honor by the GCAA.
He was inducted last fall to the GCAA Hall of Fame. Three of his players this year were named to the All-ACC team, including Ollie Schniederjans, who was named ACC Player of the Year and was named a finalist for the Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus Awards. All five of Tech’s starters in the NCAA Championship were named to the GCAA all-East region team.
Among Tech’s victories this year were the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship, the team’s 10th under Heppler and seventh in the last nine years, and the NCAA Raleigh Regional. The team is currently competing in the NCAA Division I Championship in Hutchinson, Kan.
Heppler joins Alan Bratton of Oklahoma State, Conrad Ray of Stanford, Alabama’s Jay Seawell and Washington’s Matt Thurmond. If a team wins the NCAA Championship and its coach was not previously named a finalist for the Dave Williams Award that coach will be added for coach of the year consideration.
About Georgia Tech Golf
Georgia Tech’s golf team is in its 19th year under head coach Bruce Heppler. The Yellow Jackets have won 15 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 27 appearances in the NCAA Championship and been the national runner-up four times. Connect with Georgia Tech Golf on social media by liking their Facebook page, or following on Twitter (@GT_Golf). For more information on Tech golf, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
