2015-16 TIGER GOLF || Coaching Staff
Brian Yaniger
Men's Head Coach
19" Year
The Tigers have enjoyed more top leader-
board spots under Brian Yaniger's tutelage than
at any other time in the program's history.
Now in his 19th 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 is just a few years removed from winning 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 II 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 indi¬
vidual 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 oppo¬
nents 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.
Yaniger's philosophy has produced positive results for Towson. His teams have cap¬
tured 12 tournament titles, four conference championships and earned four trips to the
NCAA Tournament in his 17 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 sguads have
achieved the highest team GPA among the men's varsity sguads. One of Yaniger's play¬
ers, Mike Larkin, was honored as the CAA's Scholar-Athlete for Golf. Another player, Nya-
sha 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.
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.
1
Jeff Castle
Men's Assistant Coach
4m Year
Two-time Colonial Athletic Association Player
of the Year Jeff Castle was named an assistant
coach for the Tiger men's golf team in 2011.
Castle, who completed his playing career for
the Tigers in 2007, was the two-time CAA Player
of the Year in 2005 and 2006. He was a four¬
time All-CAA selection and a three-time Ping
All-Region pick. As a junior, Castle set the Tow¬
son University single-round record when he shot a 63 at the James Madison University
Invitational. He also set the Towson University tournament record for 54 holes with a
200. Castle played in 11 college events that year without shooting a round over 74. He
was named the Towson University Athlete of the Year as a junior and won the Towson
Invitational as a senior. Castle was named to the CAA 25th Anniversary Team.
While he was an undergraduate, Castle won the Maryland State Amateur Champion¬
ship. He also competed in the U.S. Amateur Championship twice.
In 2008, Castle finished second in the Maryland Open. He made 7 of 10 cuts on the
Tar Heel Tour that year including four finishes in the top 12. In 2009, he finished fifth in
earnings on the Gateway Tour Winter Series. Castle finished second in two events while
making five of seven cuts. He also competed in four Tar Heel Tour events and made the
cut in three of those four events. Castle advanced to the second stage of Tour Qualifying
School that year.
A native of Ellicott City, Md„ Castle won the Maryland Open Pro Division and made
nine of 12 cuts in professional events.
