EDINBURG - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Thursday that former PGA Professional and NCAA All-American at Texas Tech Bryan Novoa is the new women's golf head coach.
Novoa served as the head scoring instructor at Scoring Solutions Golf for the last nine years, working with junior golfers to develop different styles of scoring and on-course education while also assisting them with college recruitment.
"I am looking forward to the opportunity to build a program that goes in line with the overall vision of the University, which is excellence," Novoa said. "I can't wait to start developing student-athletes to reach their highest potential, both on and off the golf course, so they can experience what it's like to be champions."
Novoa spent 2010-15 assisting First Tee San Antonio as a classroom teacher and mentor. First Tee San Antonio is a chapter of an international youth development organization with the mission of impacting the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values, and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.
Novoa also has experience at the collegiate level, working as an assistant coach at Texas Tech in 2006-07. Novoa was in charge of facilitating individual practice plans while aiding in fund raising and recruiting.
"We are pleased to introduce Bryan Novoa as head coach of the women's golf team," UTRGV Director of Athletics Chris King said. "Bryan has strong connections in the South Texas and Rio Grande Valley golf community and has all the attributes we were looking for in a leader for this program. Bryan has competed at the highest level as a PGA professional and was a NCAA All-American at Texas Tech University, in addition to recognizing the importance for our student-athletes to excel in the classroom and the community."
Before getting into coaching, Novoa spent 10 years, from 1997-06, playing professionally on the APT Tour, PGA Tour Canada, PGA Tour Latin America and the Web.com Tour.
Novoa had a strong playing career at Texas Tech, earning NCAA All-American honors after winning the Southwest Conference Championship in 1996.
Novoa graduated from Texas Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Restaurant, Hotel and Institutional Management.
"Searching for a head coach can be a long and difficult process, but we were able to accomplish our goals in an expedient manner," King said. "That would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our women's golf sport administrator, Vince Volpe. I want to personally thank him for his hard work and leadership during this endeavor."