Former UCLA Bruin to become third Stanislaus golf coach

Less than a decade ago, Brandon Christianson contributed to an NCAA golf championship for the UCLA Bruins.

But he knew about Cal State Stanislaus and its golf legacy.

“When I was recruited, I was aware of Stanislaus and Jim Hanny,” he said Tuesday. “His reputation was substantial.”

Christianson, 29, can add to the Warriors’ golf legacy. The former Bruins champion and PGA Tour caddie will succeed John Cook and Hanny – the original Stanislaus coach – to become the third coach of the Warriors’ highly regarded program.

Christianson, a UCLA assistant coach the last three seasons under Derek Freeman, spent the previous three years on the PGA Tour caddying the bags of players such as former UCLA teammate Kevin Chappell and Jason Gore.

Coaching always has been the goal of Christianson, however, and he’s already at work finding future talent.

“One of the things that excited me was the great coaching tradition,” he said. “The program already is in place. It’s not a program that needs to be built.”

Christianson, raised in Valencia, joined Chappell on the 2008 UCLA national championship team. In 2012, he caddied for Chappell when he tied for 10th at the U.S. Open at The Olympic Club.

Stanislaus officials were impressed by Christianson’s knowledge and expertise, much less his accomplishments as a four-year letter-winner for the Bruins (2005-08). At Valencia High School in 2003, he shot a 10-under-par 62 at Soule Park, one of the lowest rounds ever recorded by a high school golfer in Southern California.

“Brandon has competed and coached at one of the premier Division I programs in the country and will now have the opportunity to showcase his coaching at one of the premier Division II programs,” Stanislaus Director of Athletics Michael Matoso said.

Besides his coaching duties, Christianson organized UCLA’s Gifford Collegiate Championship.

“I’ve played and caddied and coached. I love the game. This is where I want to be,” he said. “To coach in the footsteps of Jim Hanny and John Cook is truly an honor. I’m looking forward to being a part of the community.”

This story was originally published July 7, 2015 at 8:30 PM with the headline "Former UCLA Bruin to become third Stanislaus golf coach."