NORFOLK, VA—Old Dominion University announced that Andy Crabtree has been named head coach for the Lady Monarch golf program. Crabtree comes to ODU after serving as an assistant coach for Texas A&M’s women’s golf program the past two seasons.
“I found Andy’s vision for the program aligned with our core values. He has been described as a “players coach” and has been quite successful in his own regard in college as well as an amateur golfer. I look forward to the continued success of our program under his leadership.” – Bruce Stewart, ODU’s Sr. Assoc. Athletic Director.
"I want to thank Senior Associate Athletic Director Bruce Stewart and Athletic Director Dr. Wood Selig for this opportunity. I am honored and humbled to lead the women’s golf team at Old Dominion University, and I am excited to create a great student athlete experience for the team and take the program to new heights."
While at Texas A&M, the Aggies won a Big 12 Championship and posted two top 10 NCAA finishes. In his first year at A&M, Crabtree helped the Aggies to individual titles at the 2012 Big 12 Championship and the NCAA Regional. The Aggies finished second at regionals to match their best finish in program history and placed 16th at the NCAA Championship to mark its fourth top 20 finish in McCombs' five seasons.
Prior to coming to A&M, Crabtree served as an assistant coach at Tulsa for four years and being named the team's first full-time assistant coach when he was hired in 2007. During his tenure in Tulsa as the Golden Hurricane golf team advanced to NCAA regional play three times and had eight players earn All-Conference USA honors. Tulsa's 2010 recruiting class was rated one of the best in the nation among mid-major schools by Golfweek.
Crabtree worked extensively with All C-USA golfers Nicolas Geyger, Rob Laird, and Arie Fauzi at Tulsa. He also helped instruct Chris Worrell, who was recognized by C-USA when he earned All-Freshman Team honors. In 2010, Crabtree caddied for Tulsa's Stephen Carney, when he won the Oklahoma Golf Association State Amateur Championship. Crabtree also mentored Tulsa golfers to accomplishments in the classroom. The Golf Coaches Association of America honored Tulsa men's golf with the All-Academic Team Award in 2008-09 and 2009-10. Rob Laird was selected GCAA All-American Scholar in 2009 and 2010.
Previously Crabtree was a recruiter in the admissions office at South Florida. Before that, he was the Manager of Junior Golf for the FSGA where he was the Tournament Director for the FSGA and USGA golf championships. Crabtree also served on the Florida Junior Golf Council advisory board, which raised millions of dollars to develop and promote junior golf in Florida.
A talented player in his own right, Crabtree was a four-year letterwinner at USF and was named the Conference USA Student-Athlete of the Year for golf as a senior. Crabtree earned his bachelor's degree in communication and was an Academic All-American in 1999. Following graduation, Crabtree qualified for the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach and the 2000 British Amateur at Royal Liverpool.