ROCHESTER, Mich. - After serving as the interim coach since Oct. 31, Mark Engel has been named head coach for the Oakland men's golf team, announced the athletic department on Wednesday. Engel joined the coaching staff in the summer of 2014 and has 24 years of head coaching experience.

"Mark has done a tremendous job with our men's golf program this spring, leading them to school records and their highest-ever finish at the league championship," said Senior Assistant Athletic Director and golf administrator Scott MacDonald. "Mark provides a strong student-athlete experience and it shows on and off the golf course with the team. We are excited that Mark will continue to lead this program in the future."

Last weekend, Engel coached Evan Bowser to medalist honors at the Horizon League Championships, the fourth player in program history to win the league title, as the Golden Grizzlies finished in second place. It marked Oakland's best finish at the conference tournament in the Division I era and the highest finish since 1995.

"I'm grateful that Jeff Konya, Scott MacDonald and the rest of the Oakland administration liked what our team did this spring and are having me continue what we started," said Engel. "It's an honor. Our guys did a great job and represented Oakland well every time out. And they all know we have some unfinished business -- winning the Horizon League Championship -- to still take care of. We're ready to roll up our sleeves and keep working in that direction."

Engel spent the previous 24 seasons as the head coach of the men's programs at the University of Detroit Mercy. He led the Titans to six Horizon League championships, most recently in 2010. He produced the most consistent golf program in the Horizon League. In 13 of the last 18 seasons, Engel's Titans finished in the top three, including six titles and four runner-up finishes.

A four-time Horizon League Coach of the Year (1992, '99, '07, '10), Engel recruited many top-level players, including David Byrne who won the Golf Channel's Big Break Indian Wells and plays on the Canadian Tour. He produced 29 Academic All-Horizon League selections during his tenure. He has also coached 20 individual medalists, including four Horizon League Players of the Year, and 32 all-league honorees.

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