COLLEGE STATION – Former New Mexico assistant Brian Kortan has been named assistant men’s golf coach at Texas A&M, head coach J. T. Higgins officially announced this week.
“We are really excited to have Brian as a part of our program, he’s got great experience and knowledge about the game,” Higgins said. “Over the last four years, he’s proved to be an outstanding coach and great at developing players as well as being an outstanding recruiter. He’s going to be a great addition to our team.”
Kortan comes to Aggieland after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at New Mexico, helping the Lobos advance to match play at the 2013 NCAA Championship and post a fifth-place finish which stood out as the second-highest in school history. Along the way, UNM posted wins in five tournaments including the Mountain West Conference Tournament and the NCAA Columbus Regional.
The Lobos earned an NCAA Regional berth in three of the past four seasons with Kortan on staff.
UNM has produced a trio of All-Americans the past two seasons, most recently this spring when Mountain West Player of the Year and UNM senior James Erkenbeck claimed first-team honors while sophomore Gavin Green earned third-team recognition. In 2012, John Catlin represented the Lobos with an honorable mention All-America selection.
“I’m really excited to have the opportunity to come coach with Coach Higgins at such a successful program,” Kortan said. “To be a part of what they’ve build here is exciting and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Prior to joining the UNM staff, Kortan enjoyed a stellar 16-year professional golf career, competing on various professional golf tours including the PGA, Dakotas, Hooters, Gateway, Adams and Nationwide tours. He played in the 2008 US Open and notched wins at over 15 professional events throughout his career, including the 2009 Capital One Classic and 2008 New Mexico Open.
The native of Yankton, S.D., Kortan excelled as a collegiate golfer for the Lobos from 1990-94, where he was a 1992 All-American and Western Athletic champion. He also notched wins at the 1993 Fox Acres Invitational and was an Academic All-America selection in 1994.
Kortan graduated from New Mexico in 1994 with a degree in university studies.
He replaces Jason Sigler, who left Texas A&M in the spring to take a job with Titleist, joining an A&M men’s golf program that has enjoyed consistent success under Higgins.
The Aggies stand out as the nation’s only program to finish in the top 15 at the NCAA Championship each of the last of the last six seasons including 2009 when Texas A&M was crowned National Champion.