Crabtree joins OCU as associate head coach

OKLAHOMA CITY – Andy Crabtree will come on board the Oklahoma City University coaching staff as associate head golf coach.

Crabtree will aid Marty McCauley, who was recently named OCU’s head golf coach. Crabtree will concentrate on men’s golf and McCauley will have overall control of the program while still coaching the women’s team on a daily basis.

Oklahoma City owns 11 national championships in men’s golf, most recently taking the 2018 national title. The Stars have won eight women’s golf national titles, including the 2017 national crown.

“Andy is a proven coach with a great track record of recruiting student-athletes who succeed academically and competitively,” Oklahoma City athletic director Jim Abbott said. “I’m excited to have him joining our department and have every confidence that he will continue the tradition of success in our golf program.”

Crabtree previously coached at UNLV, Old Dominion, Texas A&M and the University of Tulsa. Crabtree guided the Old Dominion women’s golf program as head coach from 2013-16.

“I am very excited that Coach Crabtree has accepted our offer and will be joining our staff,” McCauley said. “‎I think he will be a perfect fit for our golf programs, and I am very much looking forward to working with him to continue our strong tradition of men’s and women’s golf at Oklahoma City University.”

Crabtree said, “I want to thank athletic director Jim Abbott and coach Marty McCauley for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to working with the Oklahoma City University golf team and continuing the success on the golf course and in the classroom.”

Crabtree helped bring UNLV two Mountain West Conference titles. He contributed to UNLV’s 2017 recruiting class earning a No. 12 ranking by Golfstat as well as Polly Mack becoming the conference player of the year and freshman of the year.

During his time at Old Dominion, he helped the Lady Monarchs gain national recognition, especially in recruiting. Crabtree’s 2014 freshman class was ranked 19th nationally in Golfstat’s freshman class impact ranking and his 2015 class was ranked 24th.

Before taking the helm at Old Dominion, Crabtree served as an assistant coach for Texas A&M’s women’s golf program for two seasons.

In 2007, Crabtree was named the first full-time assistant men’s golf coach in history at Tulsa, a position he held until 2011. During his tenure at Tulsa, the Golden Hurricane advanced to NCAA regional play three times and had eight players earn All-Conference USA honors. Golfweek ranked Tulsa’s 2010 recruiting class one of the best in the nation among mid-major schools.

A talented player in his own right, Crabtree was a four-year letter winner at South Florida and was named the Conference USA student-athlete of the year for golf as a senior. An excellent student, Crabtree earned his bachelor’s degree in communication and was an Academic All-American in 1999. After graduation, Crabtree qualified for the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach and the 2000 British Amateur at Royal Liverpool.

Crabtree, a Bixby, Okla., native, became the 1994 Oklahoma Golf Association Junior Amateur champion.