If a consistently high level of success over a long period of time is the measure of a great program, then Georgia Tech's golf program under Bruce Heppler would certainly meet the standard. One of the top coaches in collegiate golf, Heppler has guided the Yellow Jackets to six top-five NCAA finishes in the last 11 years, including three runner-up finishes.
His Jackets have played in the NCAA Tournament 11 consecutive years and advanced to the finals in 10. During his tenure, Tech has won five Atlantic Coast Conference titles, including a share of the 2006 and 2007 crowns, and finished second in the conference championship on three other occasions. The Yellow Jackets have captured or shared 28 team titles overall. All these accomplishments, and more, have factored into Tech's golf program being judged the best in the nation in the September, 2005, issue of Golf Digest magazine, and No. 2 in the 2006 edition.
Five of his Tech players, including PGA Tour members Matt Kuchar, Troy Matteson and Nicholas Thompson, as well at Nationwide Tour members Bryce Molder and Matt Weibring, are playing professionally in the United States. Another, Chan Song, is playing professionally in Asia.

 

Formerly an assistant coach at Alabama and Georgia Southern, Christian Newton joined the Georgia Tech staff as assistant golf coach on August 1, 2007, and is now in his second year with the Yellow Jackets.
Newton, 29, is involved not only in coaching and the strength and conditioning programs for Tech's players, but also assists Heppler in recruiting and coordinates the Yellow Jackets' golf booster club and fund-raising efforts.
Newton, who worked at Alabama for two years (2005-07), helped coach the Crimson Tide to a sixth-place finish at the 2007 NCAA Championship and was involved in all facets of the Crimson Tide program. He helped revamp the golf booster program and golf camp while assisting in the development of all-Southeastern Conference players Michael Thompson, Gator Todd and Matthew Swan.
A native of Lyons, Ga., Newton was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Georgia Southern, from 2003-2005, helping the Eagles to a tie for 13th at the 2005 NCAA Championship. He also assisted in coaching two All-Americans, Aron Price and David Palm, the Eagles' first All-Americans since the 1989-90 season.

 

Dr. Valiante is currently a professor at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. He serves as the mental game consultant to the Golf Channel, Golf Digest, and the University of Florida. He has worked with many of the game’s top players including Justin Leonard, Chris Dimarco, Chad Campbell, Camilo Villegas, Jack and Gary Nicklaus, Heath Slocum, Franklin Langham, Notah Begay III, Charles Howell III, Billy Andrade, Fred Funk, Tommy Armour III, Matt Kuchar, David Duval, Chris Parra, Lori Rinker, Davis Love III and many, many more.
His groundbreaking research - sponsored by a grant by Rollins College and the Critchfield Foundation - resulted in the 2005 publication of Fearless Golf: Conquering the Mental Game. Fearless Golf was co published with Golf Digest and Doubleday and has quickly become the new standard in golf psychology. Endorsed by the game’s top players, Dr. Valiante provides a vision for competitive golf that allows golfers to remain fearless, focused, and committed to each and every shot they hit.