OSU Appoints Men's And Women's Golf Coaches

Oklahoma State Director of Athletics Mike Holder has announced head coaching changes within OSU's golf programs.

Alan Bratton, a former OSU player and assistant coach who spent the past two years as the head coach of the OSU women's program, will assume the head coaching duties of the men's program. Women's assistant coach Courtney Jones is being elevated to head coach of the Cowgirls.

Both changes are pending approval by the OSU Board of Regents.

"Oklahoma State golf has been a part of my life since 1989 and it is the only place I ever wanted to play or coach," Bratton said. "I am humbled to have the opportunity to follow Labron Harris, Mike Holder and Mike McGraw. They have set the bar very high and I am ready to get to work."

"It is not easy to step back from the women's program, but after working with Courtney for the past two years I have complete faith that she will continue to build on the momentum we created and take the program to new heights," Bratton added.

In his two seasons at the helm of the Cowgirl program, Bratton's squads combined for five victories, including the 2013 Big 12 Championship.

OSU won its first two events under his direction in the fall of 2011 and the year ended with Kelsey Vines being named Big 12 Player of the Year as well as a second-team All-American.

The 2012-13 campaign resulted in the program earning its eighth Big 12 title and Vines once again being named the league's top player as well as a second-team All-American. Freshman Julie Yang was also tabbed as an All-American, earning honorable mention status.

Prior to his time with the Cowgirls, Bratton enjoyed a seven-year run as the associate head coach for both the men's and women's programs. During that time, the Cowboys won their 10th national title in 2006 and produced their eighth NCAA champion in Jonathan Moore. Additionally, the Cowboys finished in the top five at the NCAA Championship on five occasions and captured six conference crowns.

During his tenure, OSU generated 23 All-Americans, including 10 first-team selections. The Cowboys also produced national players of the year in Rickie Fowler, Pablo Martin and Peter Uihlein.

As a player for the Cowboys, Bratton received first-team All-America honors in 1994 and 1995 and was a second-team pick in 1992. He was the co-recipient of the Jack Nicklaus Award as the national player of the year in 1994 and was the Big Eight Player of the Year in 1992 and 1994.

Additionally, Bratton was instrumental in OSU winning the eighth of its 10 NCAA team titles in 1995.

Jones just completed her second year at Oklahoma State. She is a 2006 graduate of Tulsa, where she was named an All-American Scholar Athlete by the National Golf Coaches Association in 2003 and 2004. She served as a graduate assistant at TU in 2006.

"I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to lead the Cowgirl program. I have learned a tremendous amount over the past two years," Jones said. " There is a commitment and passion for excellence at Oklahoma State that is unparalleled and inspires me daily."

"I have been blessed to be surrounded by many great leaders and coaches throughout my career and hope to impact others as they have impacted my life."

She came to Stillwater in 2011 after working as the senior tournament director for the American Junior Golf Association, a position she had held since 2007. While working at the AJGA, she helped plan and run 39 national junior golf championships and served as tournament director for 21 of those events.