Colorado University Athletics
Men's Golf
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- brad.neher@colorado.edu
- Phone:
- 303-492-4653
Brad Neher was named interim head golf coach at the University of Colorado on January 19, 2006, as he assumed the role a little over the month after the death of long-time Buffalo head coach Mark Simpson. Simpson, Neher’s head coach when he was a member of the team in the mid-1990’s, passed away last December 5 from complications due to lung cancer. He had coached the Buffaloes for 29 seasons, and had replaced his own head coach, Les Fowler, who also held the reins of the program for 29 years. Neher is thus just the third coach to oversee the program since 1948. Neher, 34, had spent the better part of seven seasons as Simpson’s assistant, as his former mentor hired him just ahead of the 1999-2000 season. He actually passed Simpson as the longest tenured assistant coach in the program’s history. He will coach the team on an interim basis until a search process is completed to hire CU’s next full-time coach; he has expressed sincere interest in following Simpson as Colorado’s coach. He had assumed many duties in the fall of 2005 while Simpson battled for his life, but the two collaborated on most decisions for the program, including the recruitment of a stellar class. Neher accompanied the team to all of the fall meets while Simpson remained in Boulder, though he often was assigned as the on-course coach in tournaments by Simpson as the NCAA allows for just one person to serve in that capacity during competition. In addition to working as the director of instruction at Eagle Trace Golf Club in nearby Broomfield, he served as the tournament director for the CU-Stevinson Ranch Invitational and the Buffalo Pro-Am. In the summer, he coordinates the NIKE Junior Golf Camp in Boulder. He has suspended most of his side ventures in his role as interim head coach (the assistant role is a part-time position). Neher returned to his alma mater four years after his graduation. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication in 1995 after lettering two years on the Buffalo golf team, playing the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons for Simpson. He played in 10 tournaments as a junior, with his top finish a 20th place effort at the CU-Fox Acres Invitational in Red Feather Lakes, and in three meets as a senior, including a ninth place finish in Colorado State’s Cables End Invitational. Prior to attending CU, he lettered two years in golf at Broward Community College (Pompano Beach, Fla.), where he earned an associate of arts degree in 1992. He tied for 12th in the 1991 Florida State Junior College Championships, one of several top 20 finishes he posted in junior college, along with six victories in amateur competitions in the state. Immediately after he earned his degree, he turned professional and competed on several tours in North America, recording six top 10 finishes as a touring pro. He has worked with the world-renowned golf teacher Bob Toski since 1990, and still participates occasionally in regional tournaments and opens. Neher is the founder and former CEO of the ACE Golf Foundation, a non-profit organization that benefits junior golfers. He created the foundation in 1996, and brought it to fruition four years later. In 2002, he merged his foundation with the highly respected Gold Crown Foundation (run by former Denver Nugget Bill Hanzlik and Ray Baker), and is now the director of golf instruction for the organization. He was born February 29, 1972 in Denver and graduated from Littleton High School, where he lettered in golf. He set 24 records during his prep career and was a second-team all-state performer as a senior. His father (Fred) played baseball at CU, where an uncle (Jim) also played on the freshman team. His late grandfather (Fred, Sr.) was an accomplished cartoonist, and as a long-time supporter of CU athletics, he was named an Honorary “C” Club member.
