The Back of the Range

College golf is won long before the first tee shot - in the fundraising, the relationships, and the relentless behind-the-scenes grind that most fans never see. Toledo's Jeff Roope pulls back the curtain on how he turned vision into a nationally relevant program, why Inverness Intercollegiate has become one of the best events in the sport, and what it really takes to compete when your budget is a fraction of the power programs. From high school coaching to a national championship at Wittenberg and now leading Toledo, Roope shares the lessons that still shape everything he does: trust, accountability, and building teams that know exactly who they are. He also explains how college golf has changed - from multi-sport athletes to year-round specialization, rising travel costs, and the pressure to do more with less - and why the schools that adapt best are the ones that stay grounded in culture.

Jeff Roope - Toledo Men's Golf Coach

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

GB&I’s Walker Cup win at Lahinch wasn’t just a trophy—it was a masterclass in team chemistry, preparation, and handling the biggest amateur stage in golf. Josh Hill stops by The Back of the Range to relive the wild celebration and the moments that turned a week in Ireland into the best night of his life. Beneath the laughter is a deeper story: how a player who felt he underachieved at Tennessee used setbacks, injuries, and hard-earned lessons to become a key part of a championship team. In this episode, Josh shares:

How data and detailed preparation shaped partnerships down to the even- and odd-hole tee shots at Lahinch

What it feels like to compete in front of 8,000 passionate fans while representing your country

Why college golf can be an invaluable development ground—but not the final verdict on a professional career

The pressure, emotion, and precision behind Josh’s famous bunker shot and winning putt on the 18th hole

Why the Walker Cup’s timing creates such a difficult decision for college seniors turning professional

Josh also looks ahead to Q School and his transition into the professional ranks, explaining why he’s focused on trusting the process, stacking consistent days, and continuing to climb the leaderboard.

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Email us: ben@thebackoftherange.com

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

In this episode, Armen walks through exactly how you take a program from 81st in the country to a top-two national finish in four years — the recruiting philosophy, the culture shifts, and the belief system he had to install before the results ever showed up. We talk about what it took to build match-play mental toughness into a young roster, what it meant to develop a true program identity at a school with UCLA's history and expectations, and how the lessons from smaller programs like UTRGV shaped the coach he is today.

Armen Kirakossian - UCLA Men's Golf Coach**

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Email us: ben@thebackoftherange.com

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

College golf is changing fast, and Shauna Taylor is one of the few people who’s lived its evolution from every angle - elite player, head coach, recruiter, mentor, and Hall of Famer. If you care about what actually builds winning programs, this conversation will show you why the best teams are built on values, relationships, and the courage to adapt. Shauna Taylor, the head coach of Arkansas Women’s Golf, opens up about the team retreat that may have set the tone for her entire season - including two hole-in-ones, a course record, and a viral behind-the-scenes look at her players being exactly who they are. She explains how she uses values exercises to shape locker-room culture, and why player-led teams are often stronger than coach-led ones.

Taylor also shares the deeply personal side of her journey - from growing up in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to becoming a decorated Georgia star, to navigating a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis that changed her path from pro golfer to coach. Her story is a reminder that the best leaders are often the ones who’ve had to rebuild their own definition of success. We also get into the future of women’s college golf: the rise of LEAP, the real value of education in the NIL era, and why Taylor believes programs must reward players fairly without losing sight of what makes college golf special. Along the way, she talks about the power of Arkansas’s home event, the Blessings Intercollegiate, the prestige of the Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, and what makes upcoming inaugural events like the Haskins tournament and the NANEA worth watching. Taylor’s Hall of Fame recognition, her habit of writing thank-you notes every morning, and her commitment to relationships over transactions make this episode a must-listen for coaches, college golf fans, and anyone who wants a masterclass in building something that lasts.

Shauna Taylor - Arkansas Women's Golf Coach

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Email us: ben@thebackoftherange.com

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Voice Work by Mitch Phillips

In this episode of The Back of the Range, Ben Adelberg sits down with Jonathan Moore, head coach of Oklahoma Men’s Golf, for a deep and wide-ranging conversation about leadership, player development, and the realities of building a championship program.

Jonathan Moore - Oklahoma Men's Golf Coach

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Email us: ben@thebackoftherange.com

Website: www.thebackoftherange.com

Voice Work by Mitch Phillips