Mike McGraw Retires After Transformative Run as Baylor Men’s Golf Coach
WACO, Texas - After more than four decades shaping the game at the high school and collegiate levels, Mike McGraw is stepping away from coaching. The Baylor men’s golf coach announced his retirement on Wednesday, bringing to a close a remarkable 42-year career that’s left a lasting mark on college golf.
McGraw, 65, has spent the last 28 years coaching at the NCAA Division I level, including a 12-year run at Baylor that elevated the program to national prominence. His decision to retire is a personal one: his wife of 30 years, Pam, requires regular dialysis treatments, and McGraw made it clear that being there for her is now his top priority.
“I need to be there for her,” McGraw said. “It’s been an amazing journey. Thankful to have been on it with so many great people.”
And what a journey it’s been.
Since arriving in Waco in 2014, McGraw has led Baylor to six NCAA Championship appearances in nine eligible seasons-more than the program had achieved in its entire history prior to his arrival. Under his leadership, the Bears captured 20 team titles, 13 individual championships, and produced 11 All-Americans. He didn’t just build a competitive team; he built a culture of excellence that pushed Baylor into the national conversation year after year.
“Any list of the most influential leaders in college golf for the past generations has to include Coach McGraw,” said Baylor Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug McNamee. “We saw that firsthand in his dedication to excellence on the course, in the classroom, and in developing young men for success in golf and beyond.”
Before putting Baylor golf on the map, McGraw had already cemented his legacy at two of the sport’s powerhouse programs: Oklahoma State and Alabama.
At Oklahoma State, he joined the staff in 1997 and helped guide the Cowboys to the 2000 national title as an assistant. He later took over as head coach, leading the men’s program to the 2006 national championship and a runner-up finish in 2010.
His teams won five Big 12 titles and made five NCAA Championship appearances during his eight-year tenure. He even had a one-year stint as head coach of the Cowgirls, leading the women’s team to a Big 12 title in 2005.
Before his time in Stillwater, McGraw got his start in coaching at the high school level in Oklahoma, where he led Edmond North to three state championships in four seasons. That early success laid the foundation for what would become one of the most respected coaching careers in college golf.
He also spent time at Alabama as an assistant coach, helping the Crimson Tide claim a national championship before taking the reins at Baylor.
McGraw’s impact goes beyond team trophies. His mentorship has launched professional careers, including that of Johnny Keefer, a three-time All-American and the only player to be named Big 12 Men's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year three times. Keefer, now on the PGA Tour, has quickly made a name for himself-earning his Tour card after a strong showing on the PGA Tour of Americas and Korn Ferry Tour, and currently sitting 46th in the Official World Golf Rankings.
McGraw’s final NCAA appearance with Baylor came in 2023, capping a stretch of four consecutive Championship berths. The Bears’ best finish under his watch came in 2017, when they reached match play and tied for fifth nationally, narrowly falling to eventual champion Oklahoma in a tight 3-2 battle that went to a 19th-hole playoff.
He’ll be inducted into the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame in 2025-a fitting honor for someone who’s given so much to the game.
With McGraw stepping away, Ryan Murphy will take over as interim head coach this spring. Murphy, who joined Baylor in January 2025 after a decade leading the University of Texas women’s program, will guide the Bears into their next chapter, starting with the Brentwood Collegiate on February 9-10 in Montgomery, Texas.
McGraw leaves behind more than just a winning record-he leaves a legacy of leadership, mentorship, and excellence that will continue to shape Baylor golf for years to come.