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Brian Yaniger headshot

Brian Yaniger

The Tigers have enjoyed more top leaderboard spots under Brian Yaniger's tutelage than at any other time in the program's history.

Now in his 20th year as the head coach of the Towson men’s golf program, Yaniger has never stopped the building process that is resulting in the Tigers' lofty place in the very competitive Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

Towson, which won its first CAA Championship in 2010, nearly claimed the conference crown in 2014. After owning at least a share of the lead after each of the first two rounds, the Tigers came up a bit short and claimed second with an 881 (293-293-295). However, freshman Juan Veloza shined for the Tigers and claimed medalist honors at the 2014 CAA Championship.

Veloza carded a 211 (74-68-69) to rank among the Top 10 individual scores in CAA Championship history. He also became the first freshman to win the CAA Tournament since Georgia State’s Allen John in 2009. The freshman joined Billy Wingerd (2004) as the two Tigers to claim CAA medalist honors and he went on to compete in the NCAA Regional hosted by Northern Illinois.

Veloza earned Most Outstanding Performer honors of the CAA Tournament and was later named the CAA Rookie of the Year.

Veloza wasn’t the only story in 2013-14 as Yaniger compiled a complete team that won three tournaments and finished among the top four teams in nine out of 11 tournaments. The Tigers posted victories at the Navy Fall Invitational, Cornell Invitational and Navy Spring Invitational.

In addition to the team success that continues under Yaniger’s watch, Towson's individual players are posting low scores and earning high marks with such honors as Player of the Year, All-CAA, All-Tournament and All-Academic. Two of his former players were named to the prestigious CAA Silver Anniversary Team.

The grandest of prizes in college golf is a trip to the NCAA post-season tournament. Under Yaniger, the Tigers have four appearances in that annual event.

In the early seasons of his career, Yaniger led the Tigers to the top of the America East Conference, winning that league's tournament title three out of four years.

In 2002 Towson moved to the CAA where golf among its southern schools is a way of life and draws national attention. Even though the Tigers face a number of CAA opponents who are traditionally ranked among the nation's 150 collegiate elite, Yaniger has been able to keep Towson's post-season fires lit.

With the Tigers clawing their way to second and third place CAA finishes in 2005 and 2004 respectively, Towson earned at-large berths to the NCAA Tournament.

In 2007 Towson threw another challenge at Yaniger in the form of developing a women's program. His expectations for its success were high. He set the same kinds of goals for the men a decade ago.

"I don't change swings or alter grips," Yaniger said. "I teach our golfers to make the right decisions on the golf course. I prepare them to mentally play the round, to think about each shot."

As much as he stresses the mental parts of the game, Yaniger realizes there's room for physical development as well.

"We provide all of the tools for our players to work in the strength and conditioning areas," Yaniger said. "To compete today, you have to be more physically fit. Our opponents are, so we will be too."

Yaniger's philosophy has produced positive results for Towson. His teams have captured 12 tournament titles, four conference championships and earned four trips to the NCAA Tournament in his 19 years.

Four of his golfers were conference medalists. He has coached four first-team All-CAA selections. Two of his players (Jeff Castle and Billy Wingerd) were named CAA Golfer of the Year; two others (Alex Brueggeman and Juan Veloza) have been chosen as the conference's Rookie of the Year.

Academically Yaniger's charges are well above par in the classroom. His squads have achieved the highest team GPA among the men's varsity squads. One of Yaniger's players, Mike Larkin, was honored as the CAA's Scholar-Athlete for Golf. Another player, Nyasha Mauchaza, was selected as a first team Arthur Ashe Scholar All-American.

During his coaching career at Towson, Yaniger has been named CAA Coach of the Year three times (2004, 2005, 2010), America East Coach of the Year twice (1999, 2000) and Towson Coach of the Year for men's sports twice (2005, 2010). In 2005 he was honored as Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. These accolades make him one of the most decorated coaches in Towson's athletics history.

Yaniger's first experience in coaching was in 1993 as head coach for the Baltimore Girls Maccabi Basketball team. During his tenure as coach his teams have won one gold and six silver medals in the Maccabi Games.

A graduate of nearby Loyola College, Yaniger was the Greyhounds' golf team captain in 1972 after playing number two at Milford Mill High School during his interscholastic career. In 1972, he led Loyola to the St. Andrews (Scotland) International Intercollegiate Tournament held at the historic course, and site of the 2015 British Open.

For almost three decades, Yaniger was a sales representative for Safeguard Business Systems. Before joining the business community, Yaniger spent time in the communications world. First, he interned at WBAL-TV in the news department, working occasionally with local legendary sportscaster Vince Bagli. He then worked as a disc jockey at WETT-Radio in Ocean City, Maryland in 1973.

Looking for a more sports oriented environment, Yaniger accepted a position at WJZ-TV as weekend sports anchor in 1974. He also spent time as a stringer for National Public Radio (NPR). The highlight of that position was an interview with Muhammad Ali just before the 1973 fight with Joe Frazier.

A native of Baltimore, Yaniger currently resides in Mount Washington with his wife Linda, a Towson graduate.

He is the father of three children, Sindy (Maryland, '96), Amy (Maryland,' 2002) and Lance, a former All-County nose tackle at Owings Mills High School. Lance is a 2011 graduate of Towson University while Sindy earned her Master's degree from Towson. Lance is currently Towson's Director of Football Operations.

Yaniger is also the grandfather Amy's daughter, Emma and Lucy Brenner and Sindy's sons Brady, Andrew and Jaden Pleis. He also has a stepson, Adam Swift.

BRIAN'S SCORECARD

Conference Titles  
1998 America East Conference Champs
2000

American East Conference Champs
2010 Colonial Athletic Association Champs
Tournament Titles  
1998 Towson Fall Invitational
2000 Hofstra Invitational
2001 Hofstra Invitational
2003

Towson Fall Invitational, The Tillinghast
2004 The Rutherford, James Madison Invitational, Navy Fall Classic, ECAC Southern Regonal
2008 Lonnie Barton Memorial
2012     STX Match Play
2013 Navy Fall Invitational, Cornell Invitational
2014 Navy Spring Invitational, Lehigh Invitational
2015 Rutgers Invitational, Whistling Straits Invitational
NCAA Appearances  
2000 West Regional (Fresno)
2004 East Regional (Yale)
2005 East Regional (Tennessee)
2010 Southeast Regonal (Atlanta)
Coaching Honors  
1999 America East Coach of the Year
2000 America East Coach of the Year
2004 Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year
2005 Colonial Athletic Association, Mid-Atlantic Region, Towson University Coach of the Year
2010 Colonial Athletic Association, Towson University Coach of the Year
Player Recognition  
1998 Brad Foxwell (1st Team All-AE, Tourney Medalist), Matt Nixon (1st Team All-AE)
2000 Greg Cote (1st Team All-AE, Tourney Medalist), A.J. Glascock (1st Team All-AE)
2001 Josh Upton (1st Team All-AE), Greg Cote (1st Team All-AE)
2003 Billy Wingerd (1st Team All-CAA)
2004 Billy Wingerd (CAA Player of the Year, Tourney Medalist), Alex Brueggemann (CAA Rookie of the Year, 1st Team All-CAA), Jeff Castle (2nd Team All-CAA
2005 Billy Wingerd and Jeff Castle (Co-CAA Players of the Year), Mike Larkin (CAA Scholar-Athlete for Men's Golf, 2nd Team All-CAA)
2006 Jeff Castle (CAA Player of the Year)
2007 Jeff Castle (2nd Team All-CAA)
2010 Billy Wingerd, Jeff Castle (CAA Silver Anniversary Golfters)
2010 Nyasha Mauchaza (Arthur Ashe 1st Team Sports Scholar, Runnerup in PGA of America Minority Collegiate Golf Championships, 2nd Team All-CAA), Airielle Dawson (3rd Place in PGA of America Minority Collgiate Golf Championships)
2011 John Duthie (1st Team All-CAA), Nyasha Mauchaza (2nd Team All-CAA)
2013 Joe Gunerman (2nd Team All-CAA, Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar nominee)
2014     Juan Veloza (1st Team All-CAA, Tourney Medalist, CAA Rookie of the Year), Joe Gunerman (2nd Team All-CAA, CAA All-Academic Team)
2016     Jimmy Grem (2nd Team All-CAA), Tyler Silberberg (CAA All-Academic Team)