OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University has chosen Marty McCauley as coach of its powerhouse women’s golf program.
McCauley has spent the past five years as men’s golf assistant coach to Greg Sands at Texas Tech. The Stars finished as NAIA runner-up last season after an unprecedented run of five consecutive national championships.
McCauley succeeds Marie-Josee Desbiens, who left OCU to become the Arkansas State women’s golf coach. M.J. Desbiens directed the Stars to two NAIA championships, a national runner-up finish and three conference titles in three seasons.
OCU has finished as NAIA women’s golf champion 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The Stars took second nationally in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2010. OCU has captured eight Sooner Athletic Conference championships in a row and nine league titles in 10 years – in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
“We at Oklahoma City University are extremely pleased to add an individual with the credentials Marty McCauley has to our talented coaching staff,” OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. “He possesses a familiarity with Oklahoma City University’s tradition of success on the course and in the classroom. His track record of success in the coaching profession and as a competitor stood out among the field of qualified candidates we had to choose from.”
McCauley said, “I’m extremely honored to return to OCU where I started my career. It’s a new challenge, but I’m really excited to get started with these student-athletes and to be working with an experienced group. My wife and I are really thrilled to come to the state of Oklahoma. Coming back home and knowing the area will be important to our program in terms of fund-raising and recruiting.”
With Texas Tech, McCauley helped guide the program to heights never before achieved since arriving in 2005. The Red Raiders enjoyed some of the best seasons in school history, including four trips to the NCAA Championships and five consecutive NCAA regional appearances. Texas Tech completed its finest season in 50 years in 2009-10, falling to Florida State 4-1 in match play of the NCAA Championships. Tech posted its first top-eight NCAA finish since 1959.
Texas Tech has fielded the strongest lineups in school history during McCauley’s tenure. Tech had six all-Americans the past five seasons, including three-time all-American Oscar Floren, who became the first Red Raider named first-team PING all-American.
McCauley previously served as assistant coach to Kyle Blaser on OCU’s ultra successful men's golf program for two seasons. McCauley aided the Stars to the 2004 NAIA national championship as well as the 2004 and 2005 Sooner Athletic Conference titles. During those two years, OCU produced seven all-Americans as well as two NAIA scholar-athlete award winners.
Prior to his previous coaching stint at OCU, the Cushing, Okla., native played collegiate golf at Wichita State for coach Grier Jones from 1999-2002. McCauley helped the Shockers capture a pair of Missouri Valley Conference championships prior to his graduation. Additionally, he received Missouri Valley academic all-conference honors during his career.
As a prep player at Cushing High School, McCauley finished his career with back-to-back Class 3A state individual championships in 1997 and 1998. McCauley was an all-state selection as a senior as well as being a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award awarded to the top senior athlete in the state.
McCauley and his wife Sara were married in August 2008.