The Back of the Range
Weekly interviews from prominent amateurs, coaches, and personalities from the game of golf!
Displaying items 1-10 of 211 in total of The Back of the Range with the tag "college golf".
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Blake Smart - University of Memphis Men's Golf Coach
October 15th, 2026 | 52 mins 28 secs
blake smart, college golf, golf podcast, memphis men's golf, pga tour, quail valley collegiate, the back of the range
Blake Smart, head coach of the University of Memphis, joins The Back of the Range to discuss the long road to building a successful college golf program. From Bucee’s-fueled van trips and early-career sacrifices to a breakthrough season, Smart shares the lessons that shaped his coaching philosophy. He reflects on his time at Berry College, Kennesaw State, and Oklahoma, explaining why hard work, trust, and finding the right fit matter in recruiting and player development. Smart also discusses navigating NIL, building team culture with an international roster, and the emotional journey to Memphis’s first NCAA Championship appearance under his leadership. Plus, hear why the Quail Valley Collegiate victory felt meaningful—and what the Tigers learned at Nationals as they look ahead.
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Johnnie Clark - University of New Mexico Men's Golf
October 9th, 2026 | 43 mins 3 secs
canada golf, college golf, golf podcast, japan golf, johnnie clark, ncaa golf, new mexico, new mexico men's golf, pga tour u
Johnnie Clark of the University of New Mexico is making a statement: he won his first three stroke-play events this fall, a rare feat in Division I golf. In this episode, he shares the journey behind his breakthrough, from discovering the game at six in Mesa, Arizona, to competing against future PGA Tour talent as a junior. Johnnie talks about emailing top college programs at 16, his experience at Oklahoma State, and why transferring to New Mexico helped him find a better fit. He also takes us on the road, reflecting on a team trip to Japan filled with Tokyo adventures plus a memorable Canadian tournament. Hear how he stays focused by ignoring leaderboards, trusting his game, and embracing the people around him—and what his rise could mean for a future in professional golf.
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Forrest Schultz - Alabama Men's Assistant Golf Coach
October 8th, 2026 | 1 hr 2 mins
alabama golf, college golf, forrest schultz, golf podcast, ncaa golf, pga tour u, the back of the range
Alabama assistant coach Forrest Schultz joins The Back of the Range to share his journey from Division II golf to the SEC. Hear how he builds competitive schedules, develops players, and creates a championship culture—plus what makes Alabama’s practices, team traditions, and approach to player development stand out.
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Darby Sligh - North Carolina State Women's Golf Coach
September 29th, 2026 | 46 mins 42 secs
Augusta National, college golf, darby sligh, golf podcast, nc state women's golf, ncaa golf, the back of the range
NC State women’s golf coach Darby Sligh speaks about the experiences that shaped her path—from growing up in North Augusta, South Carolina, and working the range at Augusta National to coaching at Newberry, Illinois State, and NC State. Darby shares what she learned building a program with limited resources, why connection and consistency matter when developing a team, and how the NCAA’s 50/50 postseason rule influences scheduling. Coach Sligh also discusses how college golf has changed, the importance of team chemistry, and the challenges facing women’s golf programs today.
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Jeff Roope - Toledo Men's Golf Coach
September 12th, 2026 | 25 mins 52 secs
college golf, golf podcast, inverness intercollegiate, jeff roope, the back of the range, toledo golf
College golf is won long before the first tee shot - in the fundraising, the relationships, and the relentless behind-the-scenes grind that most fans never see. Toledo's Jeff Roope pulls back the curtain on how he turned vision into a nationally relevant program, why Inverness Intercollegiate has become one of the best events in the sport, and what it really takes to compete when your budget is a fraction of the power programs. From high school coaching to a national championship at Wittenberg and now leading Toledo, Roope shares the lessons that still shape everything he does: trust, accountability, and building teams that know exactly who they are. He also explains how college golf has changed - from multi-sport athletes to year-round specialization, rising travel costs, and the pressure to do more with less - and why the schools that adapt best are the ones that stay grounded in culture.
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Armen Kirakossian - UCLA Men's Golf Coach
September 3rd, 2026 | 54 mins
Golf Channel, armen kirakossian, college golf, golf podcast, ncaa golf, the back of the range, ucla men's golf
In this episode, Armen walks through exactly how you take a program from 81st in the country to a top-two national finish in four years — the recruiting philosophy, the culture shifts, and the belief system he had to install before the results ever showed up. We talk about what it took to build match-play mental toughness into a young roster, what it meant to develop a true program identity at a school with UCLA's history and expectations, and how the lessons from smaller programs like UTRGV shaped the coach he is today.
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Shauna Taylor - Arkansas Women's Golf Coach
September 2nd, 2026 | 42 mins 36 secs
arkansas golf, college golf, golf podcast, maria fassi, maria jose marin, ncaa golf, shauna taylor, the back of the range
College golf is changing fast, and Shauna Taylor is one of the few people who’s lived its evolution from every angle - elite player, head coach, recruiter, mentor, and Hall of Famer. If you care about what actually builds winning programs, this conversation will show you why the best teams are built on values, relationships, and the courage to adapt. Shauna Taylor, the head coach of Arkansas Women’s Golf, opens up about the team retreat that may have set the tone for her entire season - including two hole-in-ones, a course record, and a viral behind-the-scenes look at her players being exactly who they are. She explains how she uses values exercises to shape locker-room culture, and why player-led teams are often stronger than coach-led ones.
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Jonathan Moore - Oklahoma Men's Golf Coach
August 31st, 2026 | 56 mins 18 secs
college golf, golf podcast, jonathan moore, oklahoma men's golf, oklahoma state, the back of the range, walker cup
In this episode of The Back of the Range, Ben Adelberg sits down with Jonathan Moore, head coach of Oklahoma Men’s Golf, for a deep and wide-ranging conversation about leadership, player development, and the realities of building a championship program.
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Jim Anderson - Arizona Men's Golf Coach
August 27th, 2026 | 39 mins 55 secs
arizona golf, college golf, golf podcast, jim anderson, ncaa golf, the back of the range
Jim Anderson, Arizona men’s golf coach, talks through the build of a program that is both highly competitive and deeply relationship driven. He explains how the Wildcats are preparing for a new season, what adding associate head coach Alan Murray has meant, and why last year’s NCAA semifinal run proved the program can win it all. In this episode, Ben and Anderson also dig into the realities of college golf today, from transfer portal and NIL pressures to the challenge of building real team chemistry across a roster that spans multiple countries.
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Jeff Thomas - Liberty University Men's Golf Coach
August 27th, 2026 | 35 mins 21 secs
college golf, golf podcast, jeff thomas, liberty university, pga tour u, the back of the range
Our guest on this epsiode of The Back of the Range is Jeff Thomas, head coach of the Liberty University Men's Golf Program.