Richie Coughlan Joins Baylor Men’s Golf as Assistant Coach, Bringing Tour Pedigree and Coaching Acumen
WACO, Texas - Baylor’s men’s golf program just added a serious dose of experience and credibility to its coaching staff. Richie Coughlan, a former Clemson All-American and PGA Tour professional with two decades of teaching experience, has been named assistant coach under interim head coach Ryan Murphy.
Coughlan’s resume reads like a blueprint for what you want in a collegiate golf coach. A native of Ireland, he made waves early in his career, becoming the first player ever to qualify for both the PGA Tour and European Tour in his rookie season. That kind of dual-tour breakthrough doesn’t just happen-it speaks to a player with elite-level talent and the mental toughness to compete on both sides of the Atlantic.
Murphy, who stepped in as interim head coach following the retirement of longtime leader Mike McGraw, didn’t mince words when expressing his excitement about the hire.
“We are fortunate to have Richie joining us,” Murphy said. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge about the game into our program.
He was an All-American in college, played on the PGA Tour and also has some great experience in instruction and coaching in the college ranks. I'm excited for the guys to get to know Richie and very happy that he is joining us."
That blend of playing pedigree and coaching chops is rare. Coughlan was a two-time ACC Player of the Year at Clemson (1996-97), earned All-American honors in 1997, and was later named to the ACC 50-Year Anniversary Team in 2003. Clemson inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2017-an honor that speaks to both his on-course accomplishments and his legacy within the program.
His rookie season on the PGA Tour in 1998 was no small feat either. Coughlan made 18 of 26 cuts and posted four top-25 finishes, wrapping up the year 151st on the PGA Tour Money List. He regained his Tour card in 2001 and competed through 2005, including stints on what was then the Nationwide Tour.
But it’s not just his playing days that make this hire a big one for Baylor-it’s what he’s done since. Over the past 20 years, Coughlan has built a strong reputation as a golf instructor, working in New York, Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas.
In 2014, he was named PGA Tour Academy Instructor of the Year, a nod to his impact on player development at the highest levels. Most recently, he spent five years with the University of Texas men’s golf program, including a volunteer assistant role with the Longhorns’ 2022 national championship team.
That’s the kind of behind-the-scenes experience that can pay off in a big way for a college program. He’s seen what it takes to win it all and knows how to guide players through the grind of a college season.
“My goal as a coach is to give each student-athlete the opportunity to maximize his potential, compete at the highest possible level and on a consistent basis,” Coughlan said. “My coaching philosophy encompasses both hard work in the classroom, at practice and in competition.”
It’s a message that aligns with the culture Baylor is continuing to build-one that values both performance and preparation, on and off the course.
As the Bears look ahead to their next challenge-the Cabo Collegiate at Twin Dolphin Club in Los Cabos, Mexico, from March 1-3-they’ll do so with a new voice in the room. One that’s been where these players want to go. One that knows how to get them there.
After a solid fifth-place finish at the Bentwater Intercollegiate, there’s momentum building in Waco. And with Richie Coughlan now on board, Baylor’s men’s golf program just took a meaningful step forward.