Norman, Okla. – Georgia Tech head golf coach Bruce Heppler was named Friday one of five finalists for the Dave Williams Award. Given by the Golf Coaches Association of America, the Williams Award honors the national coach of the year in NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, NJCAA Division I, and NJCAA Division II men’s golf.
Heppler joins Scott Limbaugh of Vanderbilt, Conrad Ray of Stanford, Mike Small of Illinois, and Matt Thurmond of Arizona State on the list of finalists. All five finalists are coaching at the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club.
Heppler, in his 28th year at the helm of the Georgia Tech program, has led the Yellow Jackets to eight top-six finishes in nine stroke-play tournaments this year, including a win at the 2023 NCAA Salem Regional, and a 3-1-1 match-play record, including clinching their 19th Atlantic Coast Conference Championship. He has led the Tech to the NCAA Championship finals for the 19th time, and has coached three All-ACC golfers – Christo Lamprecht, also a finalist for the Fred Haskins Award, Connor Howe and Ross Steelman.