Bio

Andrew Larkin (Los Angeles), who completed his career as a four-time All-SCIAC golfer at Occidental College in May 2012, was named the head coach of the school's men's and women's teams on June 8, 2012, has brought an enthusiastic new approach to the Tigers golf program.

"Andrew was no doubt one of our best golfers during his time at Oxy, but he was also one of our best and most well-rounded student-athletes," Occidental athletic director Jaime Hoffman said. "His knowledge of the sport and energy will give our teams the spark they need to be competitive in one of the toughest NCAA Division III conferences in the nation."

"It's really exciting and I know it's going to be fun to stay at a place that's given me so much over the last four years," Larkin said. "Moving away from playing in college, to developing players, is something I'm really interested in."

Larkin teams up with head men's soccer coach Rod Lafaurie, who serves as the golf coordinator to help with recruiting and various other administrative responsibilities.

It's a unique partnership that goes back to middle school when Lafaurie first started coaching Larkin as a soccer player. Lafaurie later coached Larkin at Milken High School and the pair reunited again this season with Larkin, a two-sport athlete at Oxy, as the men's soccer team's goalie. On the soccer field Larkin was a three year starter, attended the Senior Combine at the conclucsion of his career and was named an MLS-Top Prospect for the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.

"I couldn't think of a better person to work with right off of the bat. I've had a relationship with Rod for almost 10 years now," Larkin said. "He's a great recruiter, a great leader and he's definitely someone I look forward to helping me grow this program."

When Larkin was on the course, he was among the best in the SCIAC every year. He was named Second Team All-SCIAC twice and First Team twice. He was also a two-time Academic All-American and has two career tournament wins, including SCIAC No. 2 in 2010.

Larkin was one of Oxy's most accomplished and complete student-athletes. He held positions as the president of the Future Business Leaders of America group and the treasure of the Phi Beta Kappa Pre-Law Society at Oxy. At the 2012 Roy Dennis Senior Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet in May, he was awarded the Pat Yeomans Award for his athletic and academic success, the top honor for an individual sport athlete.

Larkin knows he's jumping right into the fire in the very competitive SCIAC, but sees potential conference success as a way to break onto the national scene.

"It's definitely going to be tough. Every team and all of the individual players are incredibly talented in the SCIAC. But seeing the group we have coming back and the players we have coming in, it's a good place to build from," Larkin said. "If we can move up into the elite part of the conference, we know we'll be a power on the national stage."

Larkin made his professional golf debut in November of 2012 after a layoff due to hip surgery. Larkin currently is ranked in the World Golf Ranking having played

events on the PGA Tour Latin Ameirca, being a former member of the OneAsia Golf Tour, and holding two professional wins including the 2014 Pepsi Tour Northern California Championship. Larkin is also a PGA of America Level 3 Apprentice working toward membership in December of 2015, a Titleist Performance Institute Certified Instructor and Level 2 Strength Coach and is the author of A Mini Tour Life.