Rob Bradley

“It is very exciting to be the next men’s golf coach at South Carolina. I want to thank Ray Tanner for believing in me and giving me this tremendous opportunity. The SEC is a golf powerhouse and I’m looking forward to competing against the best teams in college golf. South Carolina is synonymous in the game of golf, and it’s important for me to build strong relationships across the state. Player development and course management are important teaching elements for me and our goal will be to compete at the highest-level year in and year out here.”

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• NCAA Championship appearance in first season as head coach at South Carolina (2024-25) 
• Nine top-five finishes in 2024-25, T-2nd most for a single season in program history 
• 283.81 team scoring average in 2024-25, No. 4 lowest team scoring average in program history 
• 9 NCAA Regional appearances in 11 seasons as head coach at Purdue (2013-24)
• 4 NCAA Championship appearances while leading the Boilermakers ; second-most in the Big Ten behind only Illinois during the stretch
• 3 All-Americans at Purdue, the program’s first since 2004
• 18 All-Big Ten selections and coached the 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year (second in program history)
• 2013 SEC Champion and NCAA Champion as an assistant at Alabama
• 2 top-15 finishes at the NCAA Championship as an assistant at North Florida (2009-12)
• Played professionally as full-time member of Nationwide TOUR for seven seasons
• Four-year starter at two-time All-American as a player at North Carolina

Rob Bradley, who led Purdue University’s men’s golf program to nine NCAA Regionals and four NCAA Championship appearances in 11 seasons from 2013-24, was named head men’s golf coach at the University of South Carolina on June 11, 2024. He enters his second season as head coach of the Gamecocks in 2025-26.

In his first season at South Carolina in 2024-25, the team made its triumphant return to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2019 after placing fifth at the NCAA Bremerton Regional. The Gamecocks finished 19th at the NCAA Championship, which was played for the second-straight year at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. Senior All-American Nathan Franks made the cut as an individual placing T-18th with a 72-hole total of 288 (E). He became the eighth Gamecock all-time to record a top-20 finish at the NCAA Championship (first since All-American Will Starke in 2016). At NCAA Regionals, Frankie Harris led the way as he finished T-2nd, shooting 205 (-11) with scores of 72-66-67. It was his fifth top-five finish of the season, T-2nd most top-fives for a single season in program history. The redshirt junior was named PING All-Southeast Region and earned Golfweek Honorable Mention All-America honors. The Gamecocks finished the season ranked No. 22 in the final Clippd Poll. Overall, the team recorded nine top-five finishes (T-2nd most for a single season in program history) in 12 events and a scoring average of 283.81, the fourth-lowest team scoring average in school history. Franks finished No. 21 in the final PGA TOUR University rankings, becoming the first Gamecock player since All-American Ryan Hall in 2022 to finish top-25 in PGA TOUR U. 

Bradley arrived in Columbia on the heels of leading the Boilermakers to a third-place finish at the 2024 Big Ten Championship and a second-place finish at the 2024 NCAA West Lafayette Regional that punched the program’s ticket to the NCAA Championship for the 30^th time in school history. The Boilermakers won two tournaments and finished in the top three in eight of 12 events during the 2023-24 season.

“After visiting with Rob Bradley, it became clear that he has the passion, vision and positive outlook to lead our men’s golf program,” said Athletics Director Ray Tanner.  “His success as someone who can build a program and develop young men is well-documented.  I am excited about the future of our men’s golf program under Rob’s direction.”

Under Bradley’s tutelage, Purdue posted nine of the 10 best team stroke averages in school history, including this past season’s average of 287.57, which was second best in school history.  The Boilermakers had the second most NCAA Championship appearances from the Big Ten in Bradley’s 11 seasons there, trailing only Illinois.

Bradley had 14 different players earn a total of 18 All-Big Ten honors in his time in West Lafayette. He coached a pair of All-Americans, the first at Purdue in men’s golf since 2004. Herman Sekne, a two-time All-American and two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, became just the second Big Ten Player of the Year in program history in 2024.

At Purdue, Bradley had numerous golfers enter the professional ranks. Adam Schenk, who Bradley still works with, has been a regular on the PGA TOUR since 2017-18.  He finished tied for fifth at the 2024 Valero Texas Open and tied for 12^th in his debut at The Masters in 2024.  In 2023, Schenk finished 24^th in the regular season FedEx Cup standings, advancing to the TOUR Championship for the first time in his career. He finished T-9th in the final FedEx Cup race with Keegan Bradley, Matt Fitzpatrick and Max Homa. Schenk has played in 238 PGA TOUR events with 133 cuts made, 19 top-10s, eight top-fives and a pair of runner-up finishes with career earnings of $12,514,664. He has been ranked as high as No. 40 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

In addition, Stuart Macdonald and Joe Weiler currently play on the Korn Ferry Tour. Brian Carlson, Luis Fernando Barco, Cole Bradley and Andrew Farraye all played on PGA TOUR Americas.

During his time as a head coach, Bradley has a strong history of developing coaches. Three former assistant coaches under him at Purdue are current head coaches with success at their new stops. Jake Amos is the head men’s golf coach at LSU after helping East Tennessee State to four straight NCAA Championship appearances, while Mitch Kruwulycz reached the 2022 NCAA Championship with the College of Charleston. Austin Eoff is the head coach at Arkansas Little Rock.

Bradley, a former player of Devon Brouse’s at North Carolina, was named Purdue head men’s golf coach on July 10, 2013. He spent the 2012-13 season as an assistant coach at Alabama under Jay Seawell, where he helped guide the Crimson Tide to an SEC Championship and National Championship. Seawell is a 1988 South Carolina graduate and was a letterman on the golf team.

Prior to Alabama, Bradley enjoyed a successful three-year tenure as an assistant at the University of North Florida (2009-12), during which the Ospreys qualified for NCAA Regionals three times and advanced to the NCAA Championship twice, finishing 14th in 2011 and tied for 12th in 2012.

During his time at UNF under longtime head coach Scott Schroeder, Bradley helped tutor two players who combined for three All-America honors. Sean Dale was a two-time All-American, earning second team honors in 2010 and third team accolades in 2012. Kevin Aylwin garnered honorable mention recognition in 2012.

Bradley was a four-year starter for Brouse at North Carolina before embarking on a professional career. During his time in Chapel Hill, he helped lead the Tar Heels to nine tournament victories, two ACC Championships, four NCAA appearances and a third-place finish at the 1993 NCAA Championships.

The 2012 graduate of Excelsior College spent seven years as a full member of the Nationwide Tour (1997, 2000-04 and 2008) and was a two-time participant in the U.S. Open (1997 and 2003). He was a six-time finalist at the PGA’s Q-School and won the 1999 Kentucky Open Championship. Bradley also claimed the 1995 New Jersey State Amateur Championship.

Bradley and his wife, Chastity, have a son, Cole, and a daughter, Wesley. His son Cole played for him at Purdue and was an All-American for the Boilermakers.

The Bradley File:

COACHING CAREER

• 2024-present: Head Coach, University of South Carolina
• 2013-24: Head Coach, Purdue University
• 2012-13: Assistant Coach, University of Alabama
• 2009-12: Assistant Coach, University of North Florida

PLAYING CAREER

• 1997, 2000-04, 2008: Nationwide TOUR
• 1992-96: North Carolina

PLAYING ACCOLADES

• Two-time All-American (1993, 1996)
• Two-time All-ACC (1994, 1996)
• T-7^th at the the 1993 NCAA Championship helping the Tar Heels to a third-place finish
• Two-time U.S. Open participant (1997, 2003)

EDUCATION

• Excelsior College, 2012

###