Gonzaga University Athletics announced on May 12 the retirement of Brad Rickel, the longtime women’s golf head coach, after a collegiate coaching career that spanned nearly three decades.
Rickel said, “It has been a true honor to serve as the Women’s Golf Coach at Gonzaga University. The university community has made this an exceptional place to work, and I am deeply grateful for the dedicated and passionate individuals in athletics who have supported our program over the years. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the many donors and supporters whose generosity has helped our program grow and succeed. Over the course of 29 years in collegiate coaching, working with student-athletes has been an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience. While it is difficult to say goodbye, I am confident that this is the right time for me to begin a new chapter of retirement. Gonzaga Women’s Golf is well-positioned for continued growth and will undoubtedly keep making a positive impact on the lives of young student-athletes. The future is bright, and I look forward to following the program’s success as a proud supporter.”
During his tenure at Gonzaga since returning in 2007, Rickel led the women’s golf team through its most successful period, including winning the 2021 West Coast Conference Championship and making three consecutive NCAA Regional team appearances from 2013-15. He coached several individual champions and was named West Coast Conference Coach of the Year five times.
Across his combined career at Gonzaga and University of Idaho, Rickel earned eight conference coach of the year awards, led teams to four conference championships, thirteen NCAA Regional appearances, three NCAA Finals appearances, forty-three team tournament wins and forty individual tournament wins.
Chris Standiford, Director of Athletics at Gonzaga said: “Brad has given so much to Gonzaga women’s golf, and we are filled with gratitude for the time, energy and care he has poured into the program. We can now reflect on the program he helped build, the championship mentality he established during his career at the conference and NCAA level. We are grateful for all he has done and look forward to celebrating him and his family as he closes a remarkable coaching career.”
In recognition of Rickel’s retirement, Victoria Fallgren-Murphy will become head coach effective June 2. Fallgren-Murphy is a former standout student-athlete who just completed her twelfth year as assistant coach with Gonzaga.
“We are excited to name Victoria Fallgren-Murphy as the next leader of our women’s golf program,” Standiford said. “Victoria has been an important part of Gonzaga women’s golf as both a student-athlete and coach…her passion for Gonzaga…make her right person to lead…into future.”
Fallgren-Murphy expressed gratitude: “I am grateful to Chris Standiford and Shannon Strahl for opportunity…to lead…into new Pac-12 era…I am also grateful for blueprint…Brad Rickel provided throughout his tremendous career….The future …is bright….I’m ready …for this next chapter.”
Rickel concluded: “I am excited that Victoria will be stepping into head coach role….Her loyalty,…dedication,…and experience …have prepared her exceptionally well,…and I am confident that under her leadership,…the program will continue …while developing outstanding student-athletes.”
