ATLANTA, GA (July 26) — Georgia Tech Head Golf Coach Bruce Heppler signed a new five-year contract, Georgia Tech Director of Athletics Dave Braine announced today.
“Bruce is certainly one of the main reasons we have one of the top golf programs in the country,” said Braine. “His energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and we are delighted he will be with us for the next five years.”
The new five-year deal puts Heppler under contract through the 2005 season. Heppler will be entering his sixth year at Georgia Tech when the Yellow Jackets begin the 2000-01 season in September. The extension comes on the heels of one of the most successful seasons at Tech, as the Yellow Jackets matched the highest NCAA Championship finish in the programs history, placing second behind Oklahoma State this spring in Opelika, Ala. The Jackets and Cowboys tied at the end of regulation with a 72-hole total of 36-under-par 280-282-278-2761116, which is the lowest team score in the history of the event. OSU won a one-hole playoff to take the team title.
During the past four seasons, Heppler has led the Yellow Jackets to 25 top-three finishes in 37 tournaments, including nine tournament victories with three of those coming in the postseason. Tech has also finished each of those years with a top-five ranking, including last year where the team was ranked No. 1 in both major polls at the end of the year.
“When you have a family its nice to have the support and confidence from the people that you work for, and this security gives me a sense of relief,” said Heppler. “I have enjoyed my experience here to this point. I have felt sincere support from the administration and those people who support the golf program at Georgia Tech.”
Heppler added, “I am very happy that the administration feels that I have done a good job here and that they are going to let me continue to coach here at Georgia Tech.”