New York University Women's Golf

Overall Seasons as NYU Head Coach: 8 (including 2025-26)  NCAA National Championships: 1 (Women 2019) NCAA Women’s National Championship Appearances: 5 (2017-19, 2024-25)  NCAA Men's National Championship Appearances: 2 (2018-19)   Women's Coach of the Year Honors: 2 (UAA 2019, Liberty League 2019)   Brad Johnson, who originally served as the head coach of New York University’s men’s and women’s golf programs from 2016-21 and led the women to the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2019, returned as head coach of both teams in August 2023.  In his first stint as head coach, Johnson led the women's team to three NCAA Championship appearances and guided the men to a pair in his first three years at the helm. The 2020 NCAA Championships were canceled due to Covid-19 and NYU did not compete at all in 2020-21.   The women were ranked among the top teams in the nation prior to that 2019 NCAA Championship. 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 women's golf program.    Johnson again led the women’s team to the NCAA Championship in 2024-25 (an 18th-place finish), with the Violets securing an at-large bid following a second-place finish at the Liberty League Championship. The campaign also included a victory at the Jack Leaman Invitational and second-place finishes at the Williams College Invitational and the Max and Susan Stith Invitational.   Individually, Tiya Chowdary and Naomi Tan were selected Women’s Collegiate Golf Association (WGCA) Honorable Mention All-American, while Nalinda Wanikpun and Srishti Dhurandhar made All-Liberty League First Team. Wanikpun was also the Jack Leaman Individual Champion and earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors. On the men’s side, the Violets finished third at both the Liberty League Championship and the Dr. Tim Brown Invitational. Kevin Kim and Jomyuth Luangtana-anan were both All-Liberty League First Team selections, while Luangtana-anan also received PING All-Region III honors, was the individual champion at the Dr. Tim Brown Invitational and earned CSC Academic All-District honors. Both squads also made their marks in the classroom, as a total of seven players earned University Athletic Association (UAA) Spring All-Academic honors and eight received Liberty League All-Academic accolades. In the first season of his return in 2023-24, Johnson led the women’s team back to the NCAA Championship and the Violets finished 12th in the nation. His return season also included a victory at the Liberty League Championship, which automatically qualified NYU for the NCAA Championship. During the season, the Violets also recorded second-place finishes at the George Phinney Classic, the Capital Hill Classic and the Martin and Wallace Invitational. Many of Johnson’s players earned individual honors in 2023-24. Wanikpun, the Martin and Wallace Individual Champion, was selected All-Liberty League First Team along with Chowdary and Michelle Zhou, while Kexin Guan made Second Team. Five players received UAA All-Academic honors, while Wanikpun and Summer Yang were named CSC Academic All-District.     The men’s team won the Farmingdale State College Spring Invitational in ’23-24, placed second at the Bowdoin Invitational and third at the UAA Championship. Luangtana-anan had an outstanding freshman season for Johnson’s Violets. He was the Bowdoin Invitational Champion, Liberty League Rookie of the Year, made the UAA All-Tournament Team, was Second Team All-UAA and All-Liberty League, and was selected PING All-Region 2. Drew Clark captured the Farmingdale State Individual Championship, Kim was another PING All-Region 2 and CSC Academic All-District honoree, while four players were UAA All-Academic. Johnson's women’s team won six tournaments during that 2018-19 Championship season, including both the UAA and Liberty League titles for the fourth- and fifth-straight years, respectively.    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. Navika Kuchakulla won the Jekyll Island Invitational and the Liberty League Championship and was named UAA Co-Player of the Year (along with Patty Treevichaphan).     Johnson's men's team also had an outstanding season in '18-19, winning its second consecutive Liberty League Championship 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 Staff of the Year that season. Joseph 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. Robbie Keyes was also named Division III Ping All-Northeast Region and Chris Lee received First Team All-Liberty League honors. After Johnson left NYU, he went on to become the head coach of the men's and women's teams at LaVerne University (2021-22) and Lewis and Clark College (2022-23). He also served as the women's coach at Division I Hofstra University during the 2023 spring season and led the Pride to a victory at the Long Island Cup.  Prior to becoming head coach of the Violets, Johnson served as an assistant for both teams during the 2012-13 season.     In between his stints at NYU, Johnson was the 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. 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. 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 member of the PGA since 2005, Johnson is a native of Colorado Springs, CO, and resides in the Bronx, NY.  

Quagliano is in his fourth season as an assistant coach of the New York University mens and womens golf teams. His main responsibilities include serving as a swing coach and working on swing mechanics with the players.   Quaglianos contributions helped the womens team put together an outstanding campaign in 2015-16. The Violets won their first-ever University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship, captured their third Liberty League Championship and qualified for the NCAA Championship for the second consecutive season, taking 13 th place nationally. On the mens side, he helped lead the squad to seven top-five finishes, including a season-best third-place performance at the St. Lawrence Invitational.   Individually, freshman Jenni Bluetling earned UAA Player of the Year, Liberty League Co-Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors. She was named Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Rookie of the Month (March), Womens Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-East Region and NYU Female Freshman of the Year. For the men, freshman, Derrek Drozdyk was a two-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week selection and was named Honorable Mention All-UAA. The 2014-15 season was one of the most successful in program history for the Violet women as they automatically qualified for the NCAA Championship for the first time by winning the Liberty League title. The Violets posted a 10 th -place finish at the national championship behind strong performances from an all-freshman foursome led by Alyssa Poentis, who took sixth place individually and earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades from the Womens Golf Coaches Association (WGCA).   Poentis collected honors all season long, as she won the Liberty League individual title and earned both the leagues Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards. The WGCA named her First Team All-East Region, while she was also selected Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Month (September) and Player of the Month (April). She established team records for lowest scoring average (77.7), lowest 54-hole tournament (235) and 72-hole tournament (313) scores.                                                 By the time the Violets holed their final putt of the season, they had toppled nearly all of NYUs team records and posted new standards for individual success, including lowest single-round score (300), lowest 36-hole tournament score (620), lowest 54-hole tournament score (958), and lowest team scoring average (322)    The mens teams season was highlighted by three second-place team finishes, most notably at the ECAC Championship in the fall. Paul Park earned both UAA and Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors.   In his first season as a coach with the program, Quagliano saw the womens team record six top-five finishes, including a first-place showing at the McDaniel Spring Invitational and a second-place result at the Liberty League Championship. In addition, the squad set a then-single-round record with a score of 314 at the St. Lawrence Invitational. Quagliano also helped oversee a strong final campaign for captain Kristina Shalhoup,   Quagliano also assisted with a successful mens squad in 2013-14, a campaign highlighted by a first-place finish at the Hamilton Invitational. The Violets were led by captain Kyle Demshki, who finished first with a two-under-par 69 at Hamilton and earned Second Team All-UAA.   As a golfer, Quagliano participated in numerous United States Golf Association (USGA) sanctioned events. He was one of eight amateurs to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Open, held at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, CA. Quagliano is also a three-time USGA amateur participant and two-time junior amateur participant.   Professionally, Quagliano competed in over 40 tournaments between 2009 and 2011. In 2011, he competed on the Gateway Tour Arizona Winter Series, which included a victory at the Arizona Palm Valley Golf Course Tournament. Quagliano is also a three-time PGA Tour qualifying Q-School participant.   A 2009 graduate of Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology, Quagliano was a five-year member of the Blue Devils golf team who served as captain during his senior campaign. He competed in over 30 collegiate tournaments, including four NCAA Division I Championship Tournaments and helped his squad capture the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship as a freshman.   In addition to his responsibilities with the NYU golf teams, Quagliano also currently serves as a marketing manager for Nestlé Waters North America in Stamford, CT.   A native of Ardsley, NY, Quagliano and his wife Jane reside in Manhattan.   

Leibfried is in his third season as an assistant coach for the New York University mens and womens golf programs. His main responsibilities include serving as a swing coach and supervising practices for the teams non-travelers. This past season was the most successful in program history for the Violet women, as they qualified for the NCAA Championship for the first time by winning their first-ever Liberty League title. The Violets posted a 10 th -place finish at the national championship behind strong performances from an all-freshman foursome led by Alyssa Poentis, who took sixth place individually and earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades from the Womens Golf Coaches Association (WGCA).   Poentis collected honors all season long, as she won the Liberty League individual title and earned both the leagues Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards. The WGCA named her First Team All-East Region, while she was also selected Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Month (September) and Player of the Month (April). She established team records for lowest scoring average (77.7), lowest 54-hole tournament (235) and 72-hole tournament (313) scores.                                                 By the time the Violets holed their final putt of the season, they had toppled nearly all of NYUs team records and posted new standards for individual success, including lowest single-round score (300), lowest 36-hole tournament score (620), lowest 54-hole tournament score (958), and lowest team scoring average (322)    The mens teams season was highlighted by three second-place team finishes, most notably at the ECAC Championship in the fall. Freshman Paul Park earned both UAA and Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors.   In his first season as a coach with the program, Leibfried saw the womens team post six top-five finishes, including a first-place showing at the McDaniel Spring Invitational and a second-place result at the Liberty League Championship. Leibfried also helped oversee a strong year for captain Kristina Shalhoup, who finished second overall at the Liberty League Championship and finished as the programs leader in rounds played and top-20 finishes.   Leibfried also helped lead a successful mens squad in 2013-14, a campaign highlighted by a first-place finish at the Hamilton Invitational. The Violets were led by captain Kyle Demshki, who finished first with a two-under-par 69 at Hamilton and earned Second Team All-UAA (University Athletic Association) accolades. Matthew Gjonaj, emerged as a consistent performer as well, leading the squad with seven top-20 finishes and playing in a team-high 10 events.   A 2010 NYU graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and politics, Leibfried was a four-year standout on the mens golf team. Serving as captain during his junior and senior years, Leibfried helped lead the Violets to their first-ever UAA Championship in his final season.   Leibfrieds name can be spotted throughout the NYU Record Book. He is #1 on the teams all-time list in career low scoring average (76.03), one-season scoring average (75.12 in 09-10) and rounds par and under (8). Leibfried is #2 in top-five finishes (14) and #4 in top-20 finishes (24).   As a freshman, Leibfried was selected UAA Rookie of the Year, earned First Team All-UAA honors, made the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) All-Freshman Team, and was selected PING Division III All-Northeast Region and Third Team All-American.   As a senior, Leibfried won the ECAC Division III Metro Upstate Championship and the McDaniel College Spring Invitational, earned First Team All-UAA honors and was again a PING Division III All-Northeast Region selection.   Leibfried, who obtained his Master of Bioscience degree with a concentration in business and finance in 2012 from the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences in Claremont, CA, also currently serves as a consultant for GfK Market Access in New York City.   A native of Rolling Hills, CA, Leibfried resides in Manhattan.  

Kolean, who served as Assistant Diving Coach at New York University from 2009-16, was promoted to Head Coach prior to the 2016-17 season. Kolean formerly served as Head Coach of the men's and women's diving teams from 1990-2000. During Kolean's first tenure as Head Coach at NYU, four of his divers earned NCAA All-America honors. He also produced 10 University Athletic Association (UAA) champions and received UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 1997. Since returning to the Violets' coaching staff as an assistant, Kolean has continued to help the program flourish. The 2015-16 season was a historic one for both the mens and womens programs. The women went a perfect 8-0 in dual-meets and captured a best-ever eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, while the men went 8-1 and earned a best-ever ninth place finish for the second consecutive season.   In 2014-15, Kolean helped produce both mens and womens NCAA qualifiers. Austen Blease capped off his record-breaking career with an Honorable Mention All-American performance in the one-meter dive, while Austin Campitelli barely missed out on All-America honors. Blease qualified for nationals by winning the 11-dive one-meter competition at the NCAA Regional Championships, while Campitelli finished second in the 11-dive three-meter competition. Both divers also won the one-meter competitions at the UAA Championships and were named Divers of the Meet.   In 2013-14, Kolean helped produce an All-American in Blease, who posted a sixth-place finish in the one-meter dive at the NCAA Championships. Blease also won the UAA title and produced a then-school record in the event (11 dive). Kolean also helped oversee the development of two record-breaking divers on the womens team as Ashlie Pankonin set a new mark for the one-meter dive and Nia Sorgente established a record in the three-meter dive. Pankonin was also named Diver of the Meet at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships.   In 2012-13, Kolean helped guide Blease to first-place finishes in both the one- and three-meter dives at the ECAC Championships. Blease went on to finish second in the one-meter dive at the UAA Championships and sixth at the NCAA Regional Championships. Meanwhile, Kolean contributed to Nealey Wallis second-place finish at the UAA Championships and to her qualification at the NCAA Regional Championships.   In 2011-12, Blease earned Honorable Mention All-America honors by finishing 15 th  in the one-meter dive at the NCAA Championships. He set then-team records in both the one- and three-meter (6) dives and went on to capture the one-meter title at the UAA Championships.   That same season, Kolean helped Kelly Dietz to UAA titles in the one- and three-meter dives, as she captured UAA Female Diver of the Year honors. In 2010-11, Dietz earned the third All-America accolade of her career, placing 11 th  in the three-meter dive at the NCAA Championships and receiving Honorable Mention All-America accolades.   In 09-10, two of Koleans divers, Dietz and Max Norris, qualified for the NCAA Championships, where they both earned Honorable Mention All-America status. Dietz placed 12th in the three-meter dive and 13th in the one-meter dive, while Norris placed 15 th  in the one-meter dive. Norris was also named UAA Mens Diver of the Year after winning both the one- and three-meter dives at the UAA Championships. Following his first stint at NYU, Kolean served as Head Coach at Hamilton College where he produced three national champions. He earned NCAA Diving Coach of the Year honors in 2006 and from the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) twice (2005, 2006). Kolean then moved on to the Head Coach position at Old Dominion University, where three of his divers earned All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) honors.   Kolean also served seven seasons as Head Coach of NYU's men's and women's golf teams. In 2015-16, he led the women to their first-ever UAA Championship, third Liberty League Championship and second consecutive NCAA Championship appearance while guiding the men to seven top-five finishes. A two-time UAA and three-time Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honoree, Kolean led the women's squad to a program-best 10 th -place finish at the 2015 NCAA Championship.   A 1988 graduate of the University of North Dakota with Bachelor of Arts degrees in history and political science, Kolean is a native of Holland, MI, and resides in Jersey City, NJ.