Steve Runge was named the new University of Central Arkansas head men's golf coach in August 2014.
Through his six seasons at the helm at UCA, Runge has guided three Southland Conference Player of the Year winners, one Southland Conference Individual Champion, four Southland All-Academic Team members, four First-Team All-SLC honorees, one Second-Team All-SLC golfer, one Third-Team All-SLC honoree, and one Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year.
Runge, a former collegiate player at The Ohio State University, came to UCA from a three-year stint as head coach at Clayton State University in Morrow, Ga. Prior to that, Runge was an instructor at the prestigious David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
"Coach Runge is an accomplished golf professional,” said Dr. Brad Teague, UCA director of athletics. "Competing as a collegian at Ohio State and then fifteen years as a professional golfer. His desire to work with collegiate golfers is tremendous and will pay dividends for our student-athletes. The knowledge he has of what it takes to make it professionally along with all the golf instruction he has been provided makes him very valuable to our program.”
Runge, a native of Mission Viejo, Calif., played professionally for 15 years, including nine years of status on the Nationwide (now Korn Ferry) Tour, recording victories at the 2000 Korn Ferry Tour Richmond Open, 2001 Panama Open and the Utah Open in 1997. He also recorded a second-place finish at the Korn Ferry Tour Louisiana Open. He qualified for the Buick Open and the Hardees Classic on the PGA Tour in 1993.
During the short time at Clayton State, Runge coached the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year, Peach Belt Conference First-Team All-Conference Player and Second-Team NCAA All-American.
At Ohio State, Runge was a three-year letter winner under Coach Jim Brown and was co-captain of the team as a senior in 1992. The Buckeyes won the 1990 Big Ten championship and finished 10th at the NCAA National Championships. As a junior golfer, Runge was an American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) First-Team All-American in 1986.
Runge is beginning his seventh season as head coach for the Bears. He and his wife Kathy have a son Cole.
| Central Arkansas (2014-Present) Coaching Highlights |
| Conference Player of the Year |
3 |
| Conference Newcomer of the Year |
1 |
| Conference Individual Champion |
1 |
| All-Academic Conference Team |
4 |
| First-Team All-Conference |
4 |
| Second-Team All-Conference |
1 |
| Third-Team All-Conference |
1 |
| Clayton State (2013-14) Coaching Highlights |
| NCAA Second-Team All-American |
1 |
| Conference Player of the Year |
1 |
| First-Team All-Conference |
1 |
| Coaching Career Highlights (8 years) |
Totals |
| NCAA Second-Team All-American |
1 |
| Conference Player of the Year |
4 |
| Conference Newcomer of the Year |
1 |
| Conference Individual Champion |
1 |
| All-Academic Conference Team |
4 |
| First-Team All-Conference |
5 |
| Second-Team All-Conference |
1 |
| Third-Team All-Conference |
1 |
Playing highlights:
Played in the 2021 U.S. Senior Open
Won 2000 Richmond Open (Korn Ferry Tour)
Won 2001 Panama Open
Won 1997 Utah Open
2nd place 2001 Louisiana Open (Korn Ferry Tour)
2nd place 2009 Waterloo Open
1992 Team Captain – Ohio State University
1986 First-Team All-American (AJGA – American Junior Golf Association)
