Dec. 18, 2006

CANYON, Texas - The West Texas A&M athletic department has announced today that WTAMU football assistant coach Ryan Leaf will assume duties of head men's golf coach for the upcoming spring, taking the place of former coach Jeremy Hodges, who has left the program to pursue other professional opportunities.

"I asked Ryan to take on this additional responsibility based on his performance with WT thus far in his career," said WTAMU Director of Athletics Michael McBroom. "He has a great passion for working with student-athletes and motivating them to achieve their full potential. He is a great competitor with a tremendous work ethic. He embodies many of the qualities we look for in coaches, and I'm happy we were able to come to an agreement to help keep Ryan involved with our athletic program for another year."

Leaf, who joined WTAMU athletics last spring, helped head football coach Don Carthel guide the Buffalo football program to a 11-2 campaign in which the squad captured its second consecutive Lone Star Conference Championship. Leaf worked primarily with the team's quarterbacks and helped senior signal caller Dalton Bell direct the high-powered WTAMU passing offense, which finished second nationally by averaging 326.1 yards through the air per contest. The Great Falls, Mont., native is an avid golfer and will be expected to guide the team primarily in the areas of team building and leadership.

"I am honored that I have been given this opportunity and to continue to be a part of this University at something other than a volunteer level," said Lead. "It allows me to continue to assist on the football staff but also puts me in a position to work with another great group of young men."

The WTAMU men's golf team will kick off their spring schedule in Sliver City, N.M., on Feb. 2-3 as they compete in the Cactus Thaw Tournament.

"I believe good coaches are good coaches, period, regardless of the sport," McBroom added. "Coach Leaf understands the concept of team golf and, more importantly, understands how to build a team mind set and to get a group of young men to work towards a common goal. The team is excited about the upcoming season and playing for Coach Leaf, and I'm looking forward to seeing his coaching abilities in a different arena."