PROVO, Utah — After 34 seasons as the head coach of the BYU men’s golf program, Bruce Brockbank has announced that he will retire at the conclusion of the season.
Brockbank started as a student-athlete on the golf team in 1985, was hired as an assistant coach in 1988 and installed as the head coach of BYU men's golf in 1992.
“It has been an absolute privilege to play on and coach the golf team at Brigham Young University, one of the finest universities in the country,” Brockbank said. “I’m grateful Glen Tuckett and Karl Tucker gave a young, inexperienced coach a chance to work with young people. The athletic administration, Cougar Club and friends of BYU golf have always provided us every opportunity to be successful. I’ve loved being a coach at BYU the last 34 years. I’ll forever be grateful for the players and the people I’ve worked with. They have truly blessed my life. I’m excited for the future of BYU Athletics and what Athletic Director Brian Santiago, his staff and their coaches will accomplish in the coming years. Go Cougars.”
Brockbank and the No. 23-ranked Cougars will conclude the season at the Big 12 Championship next week, April 27-29, before awaiting their selection to one of six NCAA Regionals, held May 18-20.
“Bruce Brockbank has made an incredible impact over his years at BYU and leaves a legacy that will long be remembered,” said Brian Santiago, BYU director of athletics. “Bruce is revered in the college golf world and has represented BYU with class and character as a remarkable ambassador for everything BYU stands for. He has been all in on BYU and has always done things the right way. We look forward to celebrating Bruce’s hall-of-fame career at the conclusion of the season.“
Over the span of his head coaching career, Brockbank led his teams to 68 tournament victories and 25 NCAA Regional appearances. His teams won seven conference championships.
Brockbank coached 24 all-Americans. He was a BYU assistant coach when Masters champion Mike Weir played for the Cougars. As head coach, his first recruit was Matt Thurmond, now Arizona State’s highly successful golf coach, who noted that his own experience at BYU as a student-athlete led him into coaching.
Brockbank also developed PGA Tour players such as Dean Wilson, Brad Sutterfield, Daniel Summerhays, Zac Blair, Patrick Fishburn and Peter Kuest. Clay Ogden won the U.S. Amateur Public Links title as a BYU golfer.
Brockbank was named conference coach of the year seven times and is a four-time GCAA District VII Coach of the Year.
Over the course of his career, Brockbank served on the national advisory board of the Golf Coaches Association of America, GCAA Division I All-American Committee, GCAA Academic All-American Committee and served as the president of the GCAA. He also served as a member of the NCAA golf committee.
Brockbank is a member of the Utah Golf Hall of Fame and the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame.
A new BYU men’s golf coach will be named after the conclusion of the season.