NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Yale's Colin Sheehan '97, Head Coach of Men's Golf, has announced that he will step down from the program at the end of the 2023 spring season to pursue other golf endeavors. Sheehan has led the program since June 2008.
 
"Colin has been integral to the growth of the Yale men's golf program and to the sport of golf," said Victoria "Vicky" M. Chun, Thomas A. Beckett Director of Athletics. "It is rare and very special when a student-athlete has the opportunity to coach at their alma mater. Colin understood how special that was and brought much success to the men's program. Colin's passion for the student-athlete experience, the local golf community and the Yale Golf Course is unwavering. I have no doubt he will carry that same passion into his next chapter and continue to play a significant role in the sport. It has been a pleasure to work with Colin and we wish nothing but the best to him and his family."
 
Sheehan has a decorated history in his 15 years as the Bulldogs' head coach. Since his appointment, Yale has won three Ivy League Championships (2011, 2018, and 2022) and made five appearances at NCAA Regionals. In addition, he has coached 10 individuals to 18 different tournament wins: most recently Ben Carpenter '25 and his top-rated performance at the 2022 Ivy Championships. It was the third-straight championship the Bulldogs had the top player, all under Sheehan's lead.
 
Individually, he has been recognized for his leadership on several occasions. Sheehan is a four-time Division I Northeast Coach of the Year recipient (2011, 2013, 2014 and 2019) and a two-time Ivy League Coach of the Year (2019 and 2022).
 
"It has been a tremendous privilege to have been a steward of this historic 126-year-old program, having taken the reins from my own coach and mentor," said Sheehan. "I brim with pride thinking of my current and past players who have contributed to the program's success through dedication, passion, and commitment to each other.  I am grateful to the university's support of athletics and its mission. I look forward to remaining connected to Yale and Yale Golf in many ways. But first, I cannot wait for the spring campaign. This is yet another strong Yale team with championship aspirations."

Sheehan, a 1997 graduate of Yale, was a member of both the men's golf and men's squash programs as an undergraduate. He was a member of the 1996 and 1997 Ivy League Championship teams. After graduating from Yale, Sheehan was an accomplished editor for The Golfer magazine. In his time there, he wrote A History of The United States Amateur Championship, a detailed history of the championships from 1895-2005.
 
Not only was Sheehan a skilled writer, but he also worked on the construction and design of Castle Stuart Golf Links, now known as the Cabot Highlands, in Scotland in 2006 and 2007. The course was ranked #77 in the world by Golf Magazine in 2021.
 
A search for the next head coach will commence this spring.