PEPPERDINE
Pepperdine’s 1997 NCAA Championship Team
Michael Beard
PEPPERDINE’S PATH TO By Roger Horne he Pepperdine University men’s golf program boasts a proud legacy, winning the 1997 NCAA championship and more West Coast Conference titles than any other school. But over the past nine seasons the Waves have seen a truly remarkable rise, shedding the midmajor label and establishing a foothold among the nation’s elite programs. A new day began in December 2012 when Pepperdine alum Michael Beard returned to Malibu as head coach. An All-American in 2000 and 2002 and a former assistant coach, he inherited a team that would eventually finish outside the nation’s top 100. In the subsequent six years, the Waves’ end-of-season Golfweek/ Sagarin ratings went #95 to #78 to #41 to #28 to #25 to #16. And then, during the 2019-20 season, Pepperdine reached the pinnacle, hitting #1 in both computer rankings. Moving from outside the top 100 to #1 took some vision, some commitment and some luck. To reach the highest level, a school needs a combi-
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nation of the right players and access to the most prestigious tournaments, neither of which Pepperdine had enough of in Beard’s early days. He took the job knowing one crucial piece was in place. He would have the full support of Director of Athletics Dr. Steve Potts and the rest of the athletics department. “We had to raise the money to do the things we wanted to do, but Steve let me do them,” Beard said. “He knew the significance of a strong schedule so if it made sense, he let us go. He also understood how important recruiting was going to be and I don’t remember a time he told me we couldn’t go somewhere. We didn’t have limitations that a program at our level at that time could or would have. I was so appreciative to hear that.”
California Golf + Travel
With strength of schedule an important part in the rankings, Beard set out to improve the caliber of the Waves’ opponents. That was not easily achieved, as the best tournaments attract the best teams, and Pepperdine wasn’t there yet. Occasionally the Waves would get an invitation to a higher-tier event, either as a favor or based on Pepperdine’s name recognition. Then, as the Waves rose in the rankings, more opportunities came along, such as regular spots in the Southern Highlands Collegiate and U.S. Intercollegiate. Early on, recruiting was also a challenge. The Waves have always had selling points—the 1997 national championship, its recognition as a top-50 academic institution, a beautiful campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean, year-round sunny skies to practice, and access to excellent courses in the area, including their long-time associations with North Ranch Country Club and The Saticoy Club, with Sherwood Country Club later added to the mix.
