(Columbia, SC) - The South Carolina Gamecocks men's golf program has a new leader at the helm as Rob Bradley has been named the team's new head coach. Bradley comes to USC after a highly successful 11-year tenure as the coach of the Purdue Boilermakers.
The hiring was announced yesterday on the South Carolina athletics department website, a 5-year contract worth $240,000 annually. Bradley had wrapped up his final season at Purdue just two weeks prior, where the Boilermakers finished 30th at the NCAA Championships.
Rob Bradley, Purdue Athletics
During his time in West Lafayette, Bradley established Purdue as a consistent Top 25 program. He guided the Boilermakers to four NCAA Championships appearances and nine NCAA regional tournaments. This included a runner-up finish for Purdue in the NCAA Central Regional earlier this season.
Prior to Purdue, Bradley spent four years as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama. He was part of the Crimson Tide staff that won the national title in 2012.
South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner praised Bradley's track record of success and player development in a statement announcing the hire. Tanner said Bradley's experience competing at the highest levels of college golf made him the ideal candidate to take over the Gamecock program.
Bradley will look to continue building on the success of recent South Carolina coaches. He inherits a team that made the NCAA Championships last season and will aim to establish the Gamecocks as SEC and national contenders going forward.
Bradley's first order of business will be preparing his new team for the upcoming season, which tees off in the fall. He brings over a decade of coaching experience to Columbia and will aim to successfully transition from Purdue as his next chapter begins with the Gamecocks.
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What changes can fans expect in the team's strategy under Bradley
Bradley has a reputation as a player's coach. He is very focused on establishing great team chemistry and bringing out the best in each individual. Just ask any of his previous athletes; they will tell you that Brad is like family. He's also big on motivating guys to improve their games and themselves.
Where Bradley has really excelled is player development. Just look at how many Boilermakers he's helped get to the pro level. I'm sure any recruits will be excited by the opportunity to get coached up by one of the best in the biz. He really takes his time refining techniques and building confidence.
Strategically, Bradley knows how to set up a team for success tournament to tournament. The results at Purdue show he gets the most out of his rosters. USC fans should feel good knowing they've got a coach who can make the most of the talent on hand.
And Bradley know how to find talent. Between his SEC experience and Big Ten connections, he has the whole country covered. I'm betting we'll see some top prospects start flocking to Columbia. Not to mention he likes to think outside the box with analytics and tools.
So in summary - if Bradley's leadership is anything like what he brought to Purdue, the Gamecock program seems to be embarking on some good times ahead. From culture to development to recruiting, Gamecock Nation is in capable hands with this guy at the helm. Exciting things could be on the horizon.
References: https://sports.yahoo.com/south-carolina-hires-purdue-mens-080637152.html
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