TOWSON, Md. – Mike Larkin is returning home.
 
Larkin, a member of the Towson University men's golf team from 2002-05, was named the 11th head coach in program history Monday afternoon. He takes over for Brian Yaniger, who is retiring after 20 years at the helm.
 
"I am very excited to be the head coach, having played here myself," Larkin said. "What got me most excited about this opportunity was thinking back on my experience here and having the opportunity to help young men, who are in the exact position I was in, get to where they want to go with golf. Hopefully, helping them individually with that goal in mind, we'll have a lot of success as a team."
 
Larkin has coached all levels of players including beginners, high school and college golfers, touring professionals, and even a major championship winner. He is stepping down from his role as an assistant golf professional at The Golf Club of Purchase in New York.
 
"I feel like those experiences will serve me well coming into my role here at Towson as the new head coach," Larkin said. "I feel very fortunate to take over the program that (Yaniger) has built here. The fundraising that he's done here and the relationships that he's built will make it much easier for me to have success in this role."
 
Larkin played in 42 career tournaments for the Tigers, which included appearances at two NCAA Regional Championships (2004, 2005). He won the 2002 Towson Fall Invitational, was named to the Ping Mid-Atlantic All-Region Team (2005), as well as an ESPN Academic All-American (Second Team 2005) and twice the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Scholar Athlete of the Year for Men's Golf (2004, 2005).
 
One of the top golfers in program history, Larkin currently ranks sixth in all-time scoring average for the Tigers (75.05), improving his scoring average in each year of his career. He also ranks fifth in career birdies (234) and fourth in career rounds played (102).
 
"It's great to welcome Mike back to Towson," Towson director of athletics Tim Leonard said. "He also brings an understanding and appreciation for what it means to compete at the highest level and excel in the classroom as a student-athlete. Mike has a strong background and is a wonderful person who will do a great job for us. He has the demeanor and personality to lead our men's golf program to the next level."
 
Larkin graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2005 with a BS in Economics. He spent time playing various professional tours as well as working as a golf professional in the Metropolitan Section PGA in New York. His top finishes in the Met area include a victory on the Met PGA Assistant's Tour, t-3 at the Met PGA Assistant's Championship, t-6^th at the Met Open and t-11^th at both the Westchester Open and New York State Open.
 
Nationally, he has twice been medalist at U.S. Open Local Qualifying (2012, 2015), and has competed in the PGA National Assistants Championship (2007, 2008) as well as PGA Tour Qualifying School (2009).
 
"I am very excited for Mike Larkin's tenure as the Towson head men's golf coach to begin," said Tricia Turley Brandenburg, deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator.  "Throughout the process, Mike distinguished himself with both his enthusiasm for Towson and his golf knowledge.  Mike embodied the scholar athlete as a student at Towson and brings that intelligence and commitment now to coaching golf.  Mike has the ability to build on Coach Yaniger's legacy and take Towson men's golf to the next level."