Alma Mater: University of Northern Colorado '96
Seasons as Head Coach: 5 (including 2020-21)
NCAA Championship Appearances: 5 (3 women: 2017-19; 2 men: 2018-19)
(*There was no NCAA Championship in 2020)
NCAA National Championships: 1 (women 2019)
All-Americans: 7 (6 women, 1 man)
Brad Johnson, who has completed four seasons as head coach of the New York University men’s and women’s golf teams, led the women’s squad to the most-recent NCAA Division III National Championship in 2019 (the 2020 Championship was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic).
The Violets only played during the fall last season, but still produced a great deal of success. The squad won the season-opening St. Lawrence Invitational, setting team single-round (289) and 36-hole (581) records. NYU also finished second at the Mount Holyoke, Tartan and NYU Fall invitationals and was ranked #7 in the nation when the campaign came to an abrupt halt.
Individually, juniors Navika Kuchakulla and Ashley Lung were named Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Division III All-East Region and All-UAA (University Athletic Association). Kuchakulla was the individual winner at St. Lawrence, while Lung was victorious at the Tartan Invite.
The men’s team also produced an outstanding fall season, winning four of its five competitions and rising as high as #10 in the national polls (they finished at #13). The Violets, who were also victorious at St. Lawrence, went on to capture the Duke Nelson Invitational, the Liberty League Fall Preview and the Skidmore College Invitational. The squad set single-round (282) and 36-hole (577) records at Skidmore, while sophomore Joseph Burlison captured the individual title with a program-record 135.
Burlison’s campaign concluded with a plethora of honors. He was selected as a PING Division III Honorable Mention All-American and All-Northeast Region, as well as an All-UAA honoree. Freshman Alan Chen also received PING All-Northeast accolades, All-UAA honors, and was chosen NYU’s Male Freshman Athlete of the Year. Junior Robbie Keyes won the Liberty League Fall Preview title and was also selected All-Northeast Region and All-UAA.
Overall, five men and four women earned both UAA and Liberty League All-Academic honors.
During the Championship season of 2018-19, the NYU women were ranked among the top teams in the nation prior to the NCAA Championship, which was held at the Bay Oaks Country Club in Houston, TX, from May 14-17. Despite entering the final round in second place eight strokes off the lead, the Violets shot a tournament-record-tying 294 and edged out Williams College to capture the first-ever national title in the history of NYU’s varsity program, which began in March 2008. Johnson’s team won six tournaments that season, including both the UAA and Liberty League titles for the fourth- and fifth-straight years, respectively, as NYU earned UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
Individually, there were numerous accomplishments and accolades produced by Johnson’s players. Arshia Mahant, who was the National Championship Runner-up, was a WGCA Honorable Mention All-American and the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. Jessica Wu finished ninth at the NCAA Championship and was also named WGCA Honorable Mention All-American. Kuchakulla won the Jekyll Island Invitational and the Liberty League Championship and was named UAA Co-Player of the Year (along with Patty Treevichaphan). Jenni Bluetling won the St. Lawrence Invitational, while Arisa Kimura captured the General’s Invitational.
The Violets not only dominated on the courses in ‘18-19, but in the classrooms as well. Five players earned UAA All-Academic honors and Bluetling was chosen CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) All-Academic District 3 At-Large.
Johnson’s men’s team also had an outstanding season in ‘18-19, winning its second consecutive Liberty League Championship, earning another NCAA Championship bid and finishing 27th nationally. During the season, the Violets captured the St. Lawrence Invitational, placed second at the NYU Spring Invite and posted three third-place tournament finishes. Johnson, along with his assistants Todd Kolean and Eric Tarakjian, were named both UAA and Liberty League Coaching Staffs of the Year. Burlison was a breakout performer, earning Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Year and First Team honors while also being named to the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-Freshman Team and Division III Ping All-Northeast Region. Keyes was also named Division III Ping All-Northeast Region and Chris Lee received First Team All-Liberty League honors.
Off the course, three members of the men’s team earned UAA Spring Sport All-Academic honors.
In 2017-18, Johnson led the women’s team to a fourth-place overall ranking by Golfstat.com, but from October 31-March 31, the Violets were ranked as the top team in the nation. The squad finished either first or second in all 10 of its events during the regular season, including the UAA and Liberty League Championships, and ended the campaign with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championship. Kuchakulla earned UAA Player of the Year and Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors, while Alyssa Poentis earned UAA Most Valuable Player and Wu was chosen UAA Rookie of the Year. In addition, Kuchakulla, Poentis and Bluetling were all named WGCA Honorable Mention All-America, while Kuchakulla was selected WGCA Division III Freshman of the Year.
The men’s team also enjoyed a successful season under Johnson in ’17-18, finishing first in four different events. The Violets captured the Liberty League Championship and an invitation to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2008, placing 31st at the national event.
Johnson’s work with the men’s team earned him recognition as Golf Pride Grips Division III Northeast Region Coach of the Year, while he and his assistants were named UAA Coaching Staff of the Year. Keyes and Matt Shen earned PING All-Northeast Region Team honors. The squad also had two First Team All-Liberty League performers, two Second-Team All-Liberty League selections and one First Team All-UAA member.
In 2016-17, the women qualified for the NCAA Championship and finished fifth nationally. It was also a strong regular season, as NYU finished among the top-five in each of its 12 tournaments, winning six of them including the Liberty League and UAA Championships. Poentis was recognized as a WGCA Honorable Mention All-American and the Liberty League Player of the Year. Poentis, Treevichaphan and Bluetling were all selected First Team All-UAA, while Johnson and his assistants were recognized as Coaching Staff of the Year by both the UAA and Liberty League.
Johnson led the men’s team to six top-three finishes in ’16-17, including a first-place finish at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship. Individually, Luke Oberholtzer earned Second Team All-UAA honors.
Johnson, who previously served as an assistant coach of both NYU teams during the 2012-13 season, returned following a three-year stint as head coach of the men's and women's golf teams at Millsaps College. During his tenure with the Majors, Johnson helped the men's team to its highest-ever national ranking (#23) and to a championship at the Pinnacle Trust Open. He also led the women's squad to its first-ever tournament victory, the Hiwassee Fall Invitational.
During his previous stint as NYU assistant coach, Johnson helped lead the women's squad to the Liberty League Championship in its initial year of competition within the conference. For their efforts, NYU received Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Fueled by its strong performances throughout the season, NYU entered the Golf World/WGCA Poll for the first time and finished the campaign at #20. The Violets also ranked #19 in the Golfstat.com head-to-head rankings.
The Violet men also had a strong season in '12-13, as NYU finished among the top three in six of its 10 tournaments, including four second-place finishes. Kyle Demshki was one of the standouts on the squad, as he earned First Team All-UAA honors while also being named to the PING Division III All-Northeast Region Team.
Johnson spent the spring portion of the 2011-12 season as an assistant coach with the Skidmore College men's golf program. As a member of the staff, he helped the squad earn its 26th consecutive NCAA Division III Championship berth.
Johnson also has extensive experience as a golf professional, including at courses such as Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, CA; Riviera Country Club in Palisades, CA; and TPC of Scottsdale in Scottsdale, AZ.
A 1996 graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and a minor in English, Johnson was a three-year member of the men's golf team after transferring from Colorado State University. He received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in July 2009.
A member of the PGA since 2005, Johnson is a native of Colorado Springs, CO, and resides in the Bronx, NY.
