Following the conclusion of the spring 2019 season, Virginia Tech men's golf will have a new head coach. Associate head coach Brian Sharp will take over the program, Athletic Director Whit Babcock announced on Friday.
Sharp has served as an assistant under current head coach Jay Hardwick for the past 16 years. Hardwick is retiring at the end of the 2019 season.
"This is a hire that just makes sense," Babcock said. "Brian Sharp has established himself as one of the best coaches in collegiate golf and is a Hokie, through and through. Having been able to observe Brian's skill set firsthand during the last several years, it became clear to me that the best candidate for this job was right here all along."
Sharp is a graduate of Virginia Tech and played on the team during his time in Blacksburg. He was captain of the 1994 and 1995 teams and won four collegiate events during his career. As a senior in 1995, he won the Metro Conference Golf Championship.
Sharp was a four-time All-Metro Conference selection and was named to the NCAA All-District III-North team twice during his years as a student-athlete. He was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
After being promoted to associate head coach 11 years ago, Sharp has made a name as one of the best assistants in the country. He received the Jan Strickland Award in 2009, which recognizes the top assistant coach in college golf.
"Virginia Tech and our golf team have been a big part of my life for more than 25 years now and have given me opportunities that I would have never had otherwise," Sharp said. "I look forward to sharing that same experience with our current and future players and helping them to achieve their academic and athletic goals going forward."
Sharp will continue in his role as associate head coach throughout the spring season, which begins Feb. 17 at the Puerto Rico Classic.
Photo Credit: Virginia Tech Athletics
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