Tulsa tees off a new era in Men's Golf with Brandon Wilkins at the helm

It’s been nearly a decade since the University of Tulsa last fielded a men’s golf team. On Monday, that changed with the official press conference of new head coach Brandon Wilkins.

“This is something we believe we can be really good at,” Moore said. “Tulsa is a golf town. We have history here, we have facilities, and now we have a coach who’s ready to lead us forward.”

The resurrection of the program didn’t happen overnight. It was a process that began before Moore arrived as AD, with names like Bob Prince, Al Walker, Don Quint, and trustee Mark Mara stepping up behind the scenes to raise the funds and rally support. Former TU leaders Rick Dickson and Brad Carson helped set the stage. The final piece? Finding someone to lead the charge.

Watch the entire 30-minute press conference in the video below:

Brandon Wilkins

A rising name in college golf, Wilkins arrives from SMU, where he helped mold All-Americans and assemble national-level teams. His resume is strong. His references stronger. But it was his energy—and his sincerity—that sold Tulsa.

“You want someone who’s not just taking the job. You want someone who’s running toward the opportunity,” Moore said. “And Brandon did that from the first conversation.”

Wilkins’ message to the community was clear: this isn’t about building a team. It’s about building a culture.

“This is a passion project for me,” Wilkins said, voice steady with emotion. “I got into this to develop young men—great golfers, yes, but future husbands, future fathers. I want to give them something that changes their life.”

Starting over

Wilkins knows he’s starting from scratch. There’s no team, yet. Recruiting is his top priority, and so is building a national-caliber schedule that puts TU immediately on the radar. The 2026 class will be the foundation, and he plans to build with a mix of Oklahoma and Texas talent, as well as international players.

“This is the best time in history to restart a golf program,” he said. “The transfer portal, PGA Tour U, the evolution of college golf, it’s all aligning. We have the courses, we have the support, and now we have the chance.”

Level of excitement from the golfing world

He’s already received outreach from coaches at top programs like Stanford. He’s piecing together a schedule that he believes could be among the top 10 in the country. He’s heard from former TU golfers and local supporters nonstop since the announcement.

“The amount of excitement I’ve felt in just a few days has been overwhelming,” he said. “Not just from Oklahoma. I’ve gotten calls from Ireland, Sweden, even Asia. Tulsa golf matters.”

Level of competitiveness

Wilkins doesn’t shy away from the big picture. He wants to win in the American Athletic Conference—but that’s just the beginning.

“We’re not here just to compete in our league,” he said. “We want to be a top-25 program. We want to get to regionals, nationals, and eventually win a national championship. And I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think we could do that.”

The momentum is real. The vision is clear. And for the first time in nearly a decade, Tulsa men’s golf has a future again.

One built on gratitude, fueled by belief, and led by a coach who’s all in.