FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Nova Southeastern University Athletic Director Michael Mominey announced Friday that head coach
Garrett Runion has resigned after two years with the men’s golf program to pursue the assistant position at his alma mater, Louisiana State.
“Garrett has done a tremendous job in just a short period of time with the university,” said director of athletics
Michael Mominey. “His professionalism, work ethic and passion was always evident and it was reflected in the students-athletes, which resulted in his success here at NSU. He certainly took advantage of what we had to offer at NSU in terms of talented student-athletes and top notch facilities. Unfortunately for us, the opportunity for him to pursue his dream job at LSU has presented itself at this time but for Garrett, it is a tremendous opportunity.”
The news comes on the heels of the recent announcement that Runion won the GCAA Dave Williams Award, which recognizes the NCAA Division-II National Coach of the Year. He was also recognized as the South Region Coach of the Year.
In his two-year tenure with the Sharks, first as an assistant and most recently as the head coach during the 2011-12 season, Runion, who was named Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year, guided the men’s golf team to their first NCAA National Championship in program history. Prior to the NCAA Championship, the team also captured the conference championship, which was Runion’s second title in as many years and fifth in program history.
Runion’s 2011-12 team received many individual accolades, as
Benjamin Taylor (So., Leatherhead, England) was named PING/NGCA Division II Golfer of the Year, SSC Golfer of the Year and a PING First-Team All-America selection.
Oscar Lengdèn (Fr., Helsingborg,Sweden) received National Freshman of the Year honors, as well as the Freshman of the Year conference crown. In addition to Taylor,
Ricardo Celia (So., Barranquilla, Columbia), received First-Team All-SSC honors.
During the 2010-11 season, serving as the assistant coach, the team captured the SSC Championship. The Sharks also picked up numerous individual awards, as
Ben Vertz (Sr., Miami, Fla.) received PING All-American Honorable Mention and First-Team All-Conference accolades, while Celia was named to the NGCA’s All-Freshman Team and Bobby Bode was selected to the All-SSC Second-Team.
Prior to his stint at NSU, Runion played on the LSU golf team for five years. He currently holds the school’s record of the third-lowest round ever played. He was voted LSU Student Athlete of the Month three times throughout his career. Serving as co-captain from 2006-08, he led his team to two consecutive NCAA Regional appearances. During his senior season he served as the Vice President of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was honored with multiple awards, including: the Iron Tiger Award, LSU Athletic Department Male Volunteer of the Year, Athletic Directors Cup for Academic Excellence and was a member of the All-SEC Community Service Team.
The NSU athletic department will begin an immediate search for this position.
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