Men's golf promotes Sapp to head coach

Two-year assistant men's golf coach Andrew Sapp has been promoted in the wake of former head coach Rob Bradley's departure, a Purdue Athletics release read Friday.

Sapp brought a wealth of coaching experience to Purdue after having head coaching stints at East Carolina (2017-21), his alma mater North Carolina (2012-17) and the University of Michigan (2002-11). He was a part of the Purdue coaching staff from 1998 to 2002. Sapp also served as the President of the Golf Coaches Association of America from 2016-18.

With Sapp’s help during the 2023-24 season, the Boilermakers reached the National Championships for the first time since 2017, while winning a pair of events in the fall. Shortly after the Boilers' successful season ended in May, Bradley announced his move to a coveted SEC coaching spot at South Carolina.

"Andrew's resume in college golf speaks for itself. He is in an elite class of Big Ten head coaches who have taken a team to match play at the NCAA Championships," said Tim House, executive senior associate athletics director. "More important to Mike Bobinski and me though, is the elite character we have seen him display with our young people. We are excited to support Coach Sapp as he continues the tradition of excellence for the Purdue men's golf program."

Purdue’s two victories equaled its most since the 2015-16 campaign (three wins). Two players (Herman Sekne and Nels Surtani) were named All-Big Ten and PING All-Midwest Region with Sekne winning Purdue’s first Big Ten Golfer of the Year honor since 2002 (Lee Williamson).

Sapp began his coaching career at North Carolina in 1993, helping the Tar Heels to five straight NCAA Championship appearances and a 10th-place finish in 1997. Following that year, he came to Purdue, then helping the Boilermakers to a seventh-place finish in the NCAA Championships, while assisting with Purdue’s last All-American before Sekne (Lee Williamson). Purdue also won Regional titles in 2001 and 2002, and helped guide the women's team to a ninth-place showing at the 2000 NCAA Championships.

Sapp earned a pair of degrees from UNC, a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1993 and a master's in sports administration in 1996.

An avid golfer still, Sapp competed in the 2022 U.S. Senior Open and narrowly missed qualifying for the 2024 U.S. Senior Open.