Former Georgia Bulldog Ryan Hybl leaves Oklahoma to coach rival Georgia Tech

Rarely is there off-course drama in college golf, but news dropped Sunday that qualifies.

After 17 years at the helm of the Oklahoma men’s program, Ryan Hybl is leaving to coach Georgia Tech. But Hybl is a Georgia Bulldog, or rather, was a Georgia Bulldog, having played for legendary coach Chris Haack from 2000-2004.

There’s more.

Haack announced in January that he is going to retire from the Bulldog program at the end of the season—they qualified for next week's NCAA Championship—and it was widely believed that Hybl would’ve loved to have coached at his alma mater. But the day that Haack announced his move, the school named Georgia assistant and former player Mookie DeMoss would be his replacement.

Georgia Tech, coincidentally, was also looking for a coach after its legendary leader Bruce Heppler announced he was retiring at the end of this season. That season ended last week when the Yellow Jackets failed to advance out of their regional.

So now, Hybl, having won 51 tournament titles, appearing in 15 consecutive NCAA Championships and winning a national title (2017) at Oklahoma, is heading to Atlanta to coach the Yellow Jackets. Meanwhile, leaving no time to waste, Oklahoma's athletic department named current assistant Jonathan Moore to be Hybl's replacement. (In the even crazier department, Moore played college golf at Oklahoma State, winning and individual and team title for the Cowboys in 2006.)

Hybl, 44, will stay on to coach the 16th-ranked Sooners through the NCAA Championship next week in California. They qualified after winning the Corvallis Regional by a whopping 20 shots. 

“Little did I know how lucky I was to be given the opportunity to lead the Oklahoma men's golf program at 26 years old,” Hybl said. “I've been pinching myself for the last 17 years because I know I have had the best job on campus. Every day at OU has been special for me, my family and our program.

"I know many OU fans will wonder why I've decided to leave Norman for another college golf program. I want everyone to know this was the most difficult decision I've ever made, and I toiled over it for weeks. Simply put, my wife and I, who are both from Georgia, have missed out on a lot of time with loved ones back home over the last 17 years and we have a chance to return and be a part of their lives as everyone continues to get older.

"Georgia Tech men's golf has such a rich tradition and they have made it clear they only want to keep moving forward, so the combination of going back to the state of Georgia to be with family and being at a place that truly values its golf program—just like OU does—is something we had to pursue.”

Hybl is a native of Colbert, Ga., 80 miles east of Atlanta. He was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame two years ago and now becomes only the fifth head coach in the 107-year history of Georgia Tech’s golf program.

Said Hybl: "To be entrusted with leading a program with such a rich tradition, and to take the torch from one of the greatest coaches in the history of our sport in Coach Heppler, is truly humbling."