By Bennett Parker | Sports Writer
It is a new era for Baylor men’s golf.
Former head coach Mike McGraw left behind 11 seasons with the Bears when he retired in January, halfway through the 2025-26 season.
The legendary coach finished his 40-year career in high school and college golf and handed the reigns off to interim head coach Ryan Murphy for the remainder of last season.
This year’s six-man squad will be operating under new head coach Jean-Paul Hebert, who was brought on by athletic director Doug McNamee in May of this year. The Texas native brings over two decades of experience with multiple NCAA titles to his name.
“I know Jean-Paul is going to do a great job with this program,” McGraw said. “I sort of helped with the foundation, if you will, but he’s going to take it to new heights.”
Hebert is inheriting five returners to the program: fifth-year Jonas Appel, sophomore Patrick Babb, senior Alex Heard, junior Martin Kemp and senior Davis Ovard. Sophomore Tyler Sanford is set to compete in his first season with the Bears after signing in 2024. Hebert believes the veteran experience of the squad will help it compete.
“[I’m] mostly hands-off as a coach,” Hebert said. “I want as much of their own trust and development to come from within them. I coach them as individuals as well. We’re competing as a team, but it’s an individual game.”
Hebert and his team have a demanding 10-event regular season ahead of them that spans through the month of May.
“Big 12 is a very, very competitive golf conference, like it is with other sports,” Hebert said. “We have to continue to do things right and stand out in every way that we can.”
The Bears have been competing in the middle of the pack in the conference over the past decade, with 2024 being the only top-5 finish during their 25-year title drought. McNamee trusts that Hebert can flip the script in 2026.
“A proven winner, [Hebert] is successful; Texas was obviously a huge success when he was there,” McNamee said. “Won at UNLV; that was important, being a head coach. He was a naturally gifted leader in that regard.”
Hebert and company will have the opportunity to prove themselves against decorated programs like Stanford and Cal at the Bombs Darts Birds Collegiate in Chandler, Arizona, on September 7-8.
