NORMAN, Okla. — Texas Tech men’s golf associate head coach James Vargas was named a finalist for the 2026 Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award, the Golf Coaches Association of America announced Wednesday.
Vargas is in his third season with the Red Raiders after being hired by head coach Greg Sands on June 13, 2023.
The Strickland Award, presented by TaylorMade Golf Company, is given annually to an assistant coach across NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and NJCAA who has excelled in working with student-athletes both on the course and in the classroom.
Two assistant coaches — one from Division I and one from outside Division I — will be named winners next month. Joining Vargas among Division I finalists are Dustin Groves (Virginia), Noah Goldman (North Carolina), Jace Long (LSU) and Gustavo Morantes (Arkansas). Non-Division I finalists include Arrianna Custodio (Cal State East Bay), Troy Nielsen (Cal State San Bernardino) and David Rosenbaum (Meridian).
Guided by three top-20 players in the Scoreboard rankings powered by Clipped, Texas Tech is currently ranked No. 8 and has recorded a victory at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational, along with seven additional top-five finishes this season. The Red Raiders set a tournament record at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational with a 45-under 807, defeating top-ranked Auburn by six strokes in a field that included three other top-10 teams.
Since Vargas’ arrival, Texas Tech has made consecutive NCAA Championship appearances, including a 10th-place finish in 2025. The program has also earned nine Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar selections, four PING All-Central Region honors and two PING All-America honors during that span.
TaylorMade Golf Company has sponsored the Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award since its inception in 2003.
Previous Division-I Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award Winners
2025 – Thomas Sutton, Arizona State
2024 – Chris Williams, Auburn
2023 – Dudley Hart, Florida
2022 – Matt Clark, North Carolina
2021 – Bill Allcorn, Oklahoma
2020 – Jean-Paul Hebert, Texas
2019 – Armen Kirakossian, Arizona State
2018 – Corey Maggard, Auburn
2017 – Ryan Blagg, Baylor
2016 – Andrew DiBitetto, North Carolina
2015 – John Handrigan, Florida
2014 – Chris Hill, Houston
2013 – Ryan Murphy, Texas
2012 – Jim Anderson, Texas A&M
2011 – Christian Newton, Georgia Tech
2010 – Michael Burcin, South Carolina
2009 – Brian Sharp, Virginia Tech
2008 – Walter Chun, California
2007 – Andy Bischel, UNLV
2006 – John Knauer, Arizona
2005 – Greg Robertson, Purdue
2004 – Bowen Sargent, Tennessee
2003 – Mike McGraw, Oklahoma State
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