Texas Tech men’s golf associate head coach James Vargas is a 2026 Jan Strickland Award finalist as the Red Raiders continue a top-10 season nationally.
Texas Tech men’s golf is getting national recognition again, and this time it’s for associate head coach James Vargas.
The Red Raiders assistant has been named a finalist for the 2026 Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award, a major honor presented each year to one of the top assistant coaches in college golf.
That news lands at the perfect time for Texas Tech golf, which has been one of the strongest programs in the country this season.
The Red Raiders are ranked No. 8 nationally and have piled up one win and seven more top-five finishes, building the kind of resume that’s made them a serious postseason threat.
Their biggest statement came at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational, where Texas Tech fired a tournament-record 45-under 807 and beat No. 1 Auburn by six shots in a loaded field.
Vargas, now in his third season in Lubbock, has helped shape that rise. Since joining Greg Sands’ staff in June 2023, he’s been part of a run that includes back-to-back NCAA Championship appearances and a 10th-place national finish in 2025.
Texas Tech has also produced strong results away from competition, adding nine Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar selections, four PING All-Central Region honors and two PING All-America honorees during his time with the program.
The Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award, sponsored by TaylorMade Golf Company, recognizes coaches who make an impact both on the course and in the classroom.
Vargas is one of five Division I finalists, joined by assistants from Virginia, North Carolina, LSU and Arkansas.
For Texas Tech, the honor is another sign the program’s momentum is very real.
Between the team’s top-10 national ranking, its record-setting play and now Vargas earning national attention, the Red Raiders are heading into the heart of the postseason with plenty of confidence — and plenty of reason to believe even bigger results could be coming.
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