Golf coach reflects on his La Verne career

Eric Riehle, La Verne’s men’s and women’s golf coach, shares his experiences and the connections he has made as a coach Tuesday in his last faculty lecture via Zoom. Reed Gratz, professor of music; Al Clark, professor of humanities; Rick Hasse, instructor of accounting and finance; and Rita Thakur, associate dean of the College of Business and Public Management, listen to Riehle as he talks about his time at La Verne. / screenshot by Maddie Ybarra
Eric Riehle, La Verne’s men’s and women’s golf coach, shares his experiences and the connections he has made as a coach Tuesday in his last faculty lecture via Zoom. Reed Gratz, professor of music; Al Clark, professor of humanities; Rick Hasse, instructor of accounting and finance; and Rita Thakur, associate dean of the College of Business and Public Management, listen to Riehle as he talks about his time at La Verne. / screenshot by Maddie Ybarra

Jorge Martinez
Staff Writer

Eric Riehle, head men’s and women’s golf coach, talked about the lessons he has learned as a coach and how he plans on applying them to his future career plans beyond the University of La Verne on Tuesday during his lecture titled “My Last Dialogue,” via Zoom before a virtual audience of about 20.

Riehle announced in December 2020 that he will be stepping down as head golf coach, a post he held for about nine years, from 2009 to 2012, and 2015-2020.

During his time at La Verne, Riehle led the Leopards to four Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, five NCAA Division III Championships, seven All-American honors and nine All-Region accolades. He also coached three SCIAC Athletes of the Year.

Riehle said one of his strengths was his willingness to improvise. 

“Improvisation … works well, and one must know how to use it,” Riehle said. “I took underdog teams and made them come back.”

Riehle also talked about his recruitment process at La Verne and how he brought talent from all over the world.

He said that in his recruitment process he also considered students’ charisma and personality. 

Nick Tuzzolino, freshman history major, said he enjoyed the lecture.

“I think one of the biggest things to remember about him is students’ mindsets comes first.”

Riehle said he is not sure exactly what his next chapter will be, but he added: “I got some ideas to fix the community.”

Jorge Martinez can be reached at jorge.martinez4@laverne.edu.

Jorge Martinez
Other Stories
Maddie Ybarra
Other Stories

Latest Stories

Related articles

Research considers cemetery workers’ union efforts

Allyson Brantley, associate professor of history, spoke about her latest research “Justice for Cemetery Workers” Tuesday in the Quay Davis Boardroom, before a group of roughly 10 La Verne community members, with more attending on Zoom.

Manzo shares life lessons in ‘What Matters’ talk

Virginia Manzo, executive assistant in the provost’s office, spoke in the monthly “What Matters to Me and Why” series Oct. 26 in the Ludwick Center Sacred Space.

Lecture focuses on authentic leadership

Louise Kelly, professor of management and leadership, presented “Unleashing the Authentic Leadership of Hispanic Managers in the US Context Through Emotional Intelligence, Resiliency, and Mindfulness” Tuesday in the Quay Davis Board Room.

Professor focuses on chronically ill youth

Nicole Mahrer, assistant professor of psychology, presented “Virtual Acceptance and Commitment Therapy For Youth with Chronic Illnesses” for the University of La Verne on Tuesday in the Quay Davis Board Room.