UGA seeking new coach for women’s golf

Lack of postseason success results in Brewer’s dismissal.

ATHENS — Georgia Athletic Director Josh Brooks fired his second coach in as many weeks Thursday as women’s golf coach Josh Brewer was dismissed.

His firing came less than 24 hours after Georgia failed to advance in the NCAA Auburn Regional. UGA finished sixth, one stroke behind the five teams that advanced to the nationals.

Brooks had led the Bulldogs’ women’s golf program for the past 12 years.

“We feel it is in the best interest of our program to move in a different direction,” Brooks said in a statement released by the school. “We wish Josh all the best and appreciate the time he has spent here at the University of Georgia.”

Brooks said a “national search” for Georgia’s next coach will begin immediately.

Postseason success was an ongoing problem for the program under Brewer. Georgia earned a regional bid nearly every year (though it missed out in 2015), but rarely would advance to the championship rounds. When they did, the Bulldogs never contended for a national title.

The Bulldogs won 11 SEC championships from 19812012 and never went more than five years without claiming a crown. But they never won one under Brewer.

Likewise, from 1979-2012, UGA recorded 20 top-10 finishes at nationals; it had one such season in Brewer’s 12 years. Georgia women’s golf has won one national championship and has three individual champions in Vicki Goetze (1992), Cindy Schreyer (1984) and Terri Moody (1981).

The Bulldogs did have 16 tournament wins under Brewer, who was an assistant at USC when he was hired in June 2012 to replace Kelley Hester.

Last month, Brooks fired gymnastics coach Courtney Kupets Carter for similar reasons. UGA since has hired co-head coaches: Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, a Hall of Fame USA Gymnastics coach, and Ryan Roberts, who had been an assistant at UGA and Alabama the previous six seasons.

Josh Brewer