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University of North Texas Athletics
Vargas Hired As Men's Golf Assistant
7/25/2019 9:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
DENTON - When North Texas men's golf coach Brad Stracke needed a new assistant coach, he went back to his past to find a familiar face to bring aboard.
James Vargas, a three-time All-American at the University of Florida and a professional golf veteran, has joined the program to work for Stracke, who coached Vargas as a senior when he was an assistant coach for the Gators for three seasons. In their one year together, Vargas was a third-team All-America selection and finished tied for 27th at the NCAA Championship. Prior to Stracke's arrival at Florida, Vargas was a two-time honorable mention All-America as a freshman and junior.
"I've always had a passion for coaching and for golf," Vargas said. "When I decided to stop playing, I knew I wanted to stay around the game of golf, and the best way I could see doing that was to do this. I know the impact a golf coach can have on a player, both from the golf side and from developing as a person. That's what I want to bring to coaching. I want to be able to help the student-athletes and help them become better people and better players and prepare them for what the world has in store for them after college."
Vargas, 35, spent more than a decade as a professional golfer, with much of his time coming on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica circuit, where he competed from 2014-2017 and had two third-place finishes along with seven top-10 finishes. He also played in three PGA Tour events and eight events on the Web.com Tour, which is now known as the Korn Ferry Tour.
Vargas was also a contestant on Golf Channel's "Big Break" reality show when he appeared on the show's 10th season in 2008.
"James Vargas was a three-time All-American at the University of Florida and played professional golf for 12 years, and he is the perfect fit for our program," Stracke said.
Vargas said he is ready to embark on his first year in coaching and added he couldn't have hoped for a better place to start his new career.
"North Texas has a strong future," he said. "We have a good group of guys returning and a good freshman class coming in. We have some of the best facilities in the country with Maridoe Golf Club. I'm obviously excited to work with Brad again. Spending that one year with him in college, we got along really well and I know how much he cares and how competitive he is, so I think we share a lot of the same common goals. I know he'll help make me a better coach, and I can't thank him enough for giving me this opportunity."
James Vargas, a three-time All-American at the University of Florida and a professional golf veteran, has joined the program to work for Stracke, who coached Vargas as a senior when he was an assistant coach for the Gators for three seasons. In their one year together, Vargas was a third-team All-America selection and finished tied for 27th at the NCAA Championship. Prior to Stracke's arrival at Florida, Vargas was a two-time honorable mention All-America as a freshman and junior.
"I've always had a passion for coaching and for golf," Vargas said. "When I decided to stop playing, I knew I wanted to stay around the game of golf, and the best way I could see doing that was to do this. I know the impact a golf coach can have on a player, both from the golf side and from developing as a person. That's what I want to bring to coaching. I want to be able to help the student-athletes and help them become better people and better players and prepare them for what the world has in store for them after college."
Vargas, 35, spent more than a decade as a professional golfer, with much of his time coming on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica circuit, where he competed from 2014-2017 and had two third-place finishes along with seven top-10 finishes. He also played in three PGA Tour events and eight events on the Web.com Tour, which is now known as the Korn Ferry Tour.
Vargas was also a contestant on Golf Channel's "Big Break" reality show when he appeared on the show's 10th season in 2008.
"James Vargas was a three-time All-American at the University of Florida and played professional golf for 12 years, and he is the perfect fit for our program," Stracke said.
Vargas said he is ready to embark on his first year in coaching and added he couldn't have hoped for a better place to start his new career.
"North Texas has a strong future," he said. "We have a good group of guys returning and a good freshman class coming in. We have some of the best facilities in the country with Maridoe Golf Club. I'm obviously excited to work with Brad again. Spending that one year with him in college, we got along really well and I know how much he cares and how competitive he is, so I think we share a lot of the same common goals. I know he'll help make me a better coach, and I can't thank him enough for giving me this opportunity."
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