June 29, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - After two years, two Conference USA Championship titles and a pair of trips to the NCAA Regionals, men's golf assistant coach Toby Ragland is leaving UCF to embark on a professional career. During Ragland's tenure with the Knights working under head coach Bryce Wallor, UCF enjoyed great success on and off the course.
Most recently, UCF won three team tournament titles, and posted seven total top-five finishes in 2010-11. The successful campaign was capped with an impressive victory at the C-USA Championship in Texarkana, Ark. The Knights garnered the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals, and participated in postseason play in Ocala, Fla.
Ragland helped mentor Connor Arendell and Greg Eason, who both earned numerous individual accolades following the year. Arendell was an All-C-USA First Team pick, while Eason was selected as the conference freshman of the year.
Off the course, UCF's team grade point average in the spring was 3.264, which is impressive considering the squad's demanding travel schedule. Five Knights were named to the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.
Now after helping the Knights shine, Ragland, a former collegiate standout at Florida, is starting his professional career.
"Playing is something that I have always wanted to do," Ragland said. "Coaching was also something that I was very interested in. I definitely see myself coaching down the line. But I knew at this point that pursuing a career was what I wanted to do."
Ragland expects to compete in eight events on the NGA Hooters Tour, starting with the Cutter Creek Classic in North Carolina on July 14. In September, he plans on turning his attention to the PGA TOUR Q-School.
Wallor is thankful for Ragland's efforts at UCF, and is enthusiastic about the move.
"I am extremely excited for him to have the chance to play professional golf. I have known Toby for a long time. He did just an absolutely outstanding job, from logistics to a recruiting standpoint. He is loyal, dependable and reliable. We won two conference championships, and I think his coaching had a lot to do with that," Wallor said.
As he prepares to begin a new chapter in his life, Ragland looks back at his time with the Knights with great pride. After all, how many coaches can begin their careers with helping a team win back-to-back league titles?
"It was very exciting to be a part of the growth of the UCF program, and to have come through at the end both years with two conference championships was a lot of fun," Ragland said. "Those were two very special experiences. Being a part of the overall growth of UCF Athletics was great."