Randy Lein, named as the Pac-12 Men's Golf Coach of the Century and a 2015 Sun Devil Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, passed away early this week. While his records (six straight Pac-10 titles and eight while at ASU), his 1996 NCAA title and numerous All-Americans and tournament wins tell his story as a coach, his life as a wonderful friend, mentor and incredible person are what many remember most. The 2008 Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee was simply one of the nicest individuals you would ever meet.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Coach Randy Lein who led @SunDevilMGolf to the 1996 national title and 8 Pac-10 Championships.https://t.co/cNAX2rkHa9 pic.twitter.com/7Q6RkXfEFz
— Arizona State Sun Devils (@TheSunDevils) January 2, 2020
He was loved by everyone in the department, as his demeanor and pride of ASU showed in his friendship with all the coaches and staff.
Coach, some people in life you always think is going to be there and you are one of them. It's hard to imagine you're not with us anymore. You've been a great coach and more importantly you've always been a great… https://t.co/zmaCm4PrEI
— Niklas Lemke (@niklaslemke) January 2, 2020
"Coach Lein was one of the most caring and gentle human beings I've ever known," said former Sun Devil head men's golf coach Tim Mickelson, who also started his playing career at ASU under Coach Lein. "I never heard him say anything derogatory about another person in the 25 years that I knew him. Even after I replaced him at ASU he was extremely supportive of me, the golf program and ASU. I am honored to call him a friend, a mentor, a colleague, and most importantly, my COACH. It is a sad day for Sun Devil Nation."
Congrats to my coach and friend Coach Randy Lein on his induction into the ASU hall of fame pic.twitter.com/vsdqw9jiHk
— Tim Mickelson (@goodwalkspoiled) October 11, 2015
Born in Sepember of 1950, Coach Lein took over a proud program and took it to the next level in 19 seasons (1992-2011) as the head coach of the Sun Devil Men's Golf program, leading the Sun Devils to the 1996 National Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn., with a three-stroke victory over UNLV at the Honors Course.
"Randy and I bonded while riding boogie boards with our teams at Hapuna Beach after rounds in Hawaii," says current Sun Devil head coach Matt Thurmond, who was the head coach at Washington prior to ASU and competed with Sun Devil teams under Coach Lein. "He loved his players and always wanted them to have fun and be happy while also winning on the course. He cared about them as people far more than the score they shot. He was an amazing colleague and showed so much kindness and interest in me as a young coach. He was universally liked, respected, and appreciated by his coaching peers and was a friend to all. His favorite thing was always following, supporting, and promoting his players in all of their success both on and off the course. He coached many great teams and players, helping them reach their potential while also earning recognition as the Pac-12 Coach of the Century. He made a huge impact in the record books during his career, but an even bigger impact in the lives of his players and colleagues. Anything Sun Devil Golf accomplishes in the future will have a big dose of Randy Lein in it, and we will always know, appreciate and understand that he helped pave the way for all of us."
Under Lein, the Sun Devils recorded 44 tournament victories, including a school record six in 1995-96, as well as eight Pac-10 Conference Championships, including a conference-record six straight from 1995-2000, five NCAA West Regional wins, and 10 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships.Coach Lein was an incredible man. What a sad day ?? https://t.co/rI4PSvyV2i
— Walter Chun (@CoachWalterC) January 2, 2020
Randy Lein and Linda Vollstedt are the #100Pac12 Coaches of the Century! pic.twitter.com/yTVAM3W1fp
— Arizona State Sun Devils (@TheSunDevils) May 3, 2016
MOST SUN DEVIL PAC-12 TEAM CHAMPIONS WON BY COACHES
Randy Lein, Men's Golf (8): 2008, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1993
Bobby Douglas, Wrestling (8): 1980, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
Linda Voldstedt, Women's Golf (6): 1987, 1988, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
He coached NCAA medalists Todd Demsey (1993) and Alejandro Canizares (2003), and eighteen All-Americans on 40 occasions with a list with some of the biggest names in the sport.
He won Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year honors five times at ASU, and in his 19 years ASU finished in the top six at the NCAA Championships nine times.
In that span the Sun Devils and Oklahoma State were the only teams to have two NCAA individual champions. Lein also tutored first-team All-Americans and Academic All-Americans Chris Hanell and Scott Johnson in 1997, and had two of the top collegiate golfers in 1999 with All-American Jeff Quinney and three-time All-American Paul Casey.
COACH LEIN'S SUN DEVIL ALL-AMERICANS
Darren Angel, 2 (1998 and 1996 Honorable Mention)
Benjamin Alvarado Holley, 2 (2007 Second-Team and 2006 Honorable Mention)
Knut Borsheim (2009 Honorable Mention)
Alejandro Canizares, 4 (2006 and 2003 First-Team, 2005 and 2004 Third-Team)
Paul Casey, 3 (2000 First-Team, 1999 and 1998 Second-Team)
Todd Demsey, 3 (1993 and 1994 First-Team, 1995 Third-Team)
Stephan Gross (2009 Honorable Mention)
Chris Hanell, 3 (1997 First-Team, 1995 and 1994 Honorable Mention)
Scott Johnson, 2 (1997 First-Team and 1995 Honorable Mention)
Matt Jones, 2 (2001 First-Team and 2000 Honorable Mention)
Jesper Kennegard, 2 (2008 First-Team, 2010 Third-Team and 2009 Honorable Mention)
Niklas Lemke, 3 (2007 First-Team, 2006 Third-Team and 2005 Honorable Mention)
Jeff Quinney, 3 (2001 and 1999 Second-Team, 1998 Honorable Mention)
Chez Reavie, 3 (2004 Second-Team, 2003 and 2001 Honorable Mention)
Scott Pinckney (2009 Honorable Mention)
Joey Snyder, 2 (1996 and 1995 Honorable Mention)
Cade Stone (1993 Honorable Mention)
Chris Stutts (1994 Second-Team)
Former Arizona State Hall of Fame men's golf coach Randy Lein dies https://t.co/BVqGZCwlXD
— azcentral sports (@azcsports) January 2, 2020
Lein (pronounced "Line"), a 1975 graduate of CS Northridge, led USC to the NCAA Championship every year from 1984 through 1992. The Trojans won 23 tournaments in 10 seasons and had 21 All-Americans. He was an associate coach at USC for four seasons prior to earning the head position (1980-83). USC earned Pac-10 titles in 1984 and 1986, finishing eighth at the NCAAs in both seasons. Lein was named Pac-10 and District VIII Coach-of-the-Year for his efforts in 1986 and 1980. Prior to that, he served as head pro at Westlake Village Golf Course.
REMEMBERING COACH LEIN..."Randy really cared about his players. Coaching was his passion, he loved helping his players develop not only as golfers but as people. His players were his family and he stayed in contact with them and their families after they left the program. He was proud of their accomplishments. In the 90's both programs were at their pinnacles - we won in 93, 94, 95 and he won in 1996. The players all fed off of each other and we built a great culture together. He was a really nice person with a huge heart and a great role model for all of us." -- Former Sun Devil Women's Golf Head Coach Linda Vollstedt
"Coach was one of the most positive gentlemen I have ever met, offering many words of encouragement while I was the Director of Golf at ASU Karsten. He will always be in my heart!" -- Jeff Reich
"Coach Lein was an excellent person!! He was an excellent coach. He was always there to listen to his players. He was proud of his team and wanted everybody to feel part of it. He was proud to be at ASU, be a Sun Devil. I never saw him angry, desperate or react in a bad way with anybody. Particularly to me, gave me all his trust, advice as a player and as a person, he believed in me! After I graduated, I kept in touch and ask him about players I was coaching." -- Oscar Palacio, who played at ASU from 1993-96 and earned his finance degree in 1997.
"Karen and I remember with pride when Randy came to ASU from USC. We held the first of many events for him at Naumann/Hobbs Material Handling. We spent many great moments with Randy. The greatest was when the Hobbs Family plus Michelle, before she and Bob Jr. were married, spent the week in Tennessee watching our Devils win the NCAA Championship. Lots of great memories. Players were Darren Angel, Chris Hanell, Scott Johnson, Pat Perez, and Joey Snyder. Randy, thank you for letting us enjoy many memorable moments with you and your mother. We will miss you but will always remember you." -- Sun Devil supporter Bob Hobbs.
"I really enjoyed his style of coaching and he had the respect of many, many coaches throughout the United States. Not for the way he beat up and got us back on the right track. He didn't do that. There's a few that would literally sit guys down and berate them but that wasn't Randy's style. Randy was there to support us and he's probably one of the most positive people you'll ever come across. He always finds the silver lining and stays away form the negative vibes. To me, he's more than just a good coach, he's a good friend." -- Joey Snyder, who was Randy's 1996 NCAA Championship team.
"We are all very saddened by the loss of Coach Randy Lein. He was a good friend to all of us and did a great job leading our men's team for nearly 20 years. Randy will be greatly missed by everyone in the Sun Devil Golf Family." -- Sun Devil women's golf head coach Missy Farr-Kaye.
Very sad time for Sun Devil Golf. We lost a member of our family who dedicated his life to mentoring and coaching. Randy was a great friend and I will miss him. RIP Randy Lein ???? https://t.co/NbDVyTciPy
— Missy Kaye (@missymkaye) January 2, 2020
One of the nicest, most thoughtful and caring men I have ever known. A true leader by example who taught me so much without ever realizing the impact he was having. We lost a wonderful human being today. Rest In Peace Coach Lein. https://t.co/ttuxaNYmik
— Texas A&M Men's Golf (@AggieMensGolf) January 2, 2020
Heartbroken to learn of the passing of Randy Lein, my college golf coach who persuaded me to move to @ArizonaState and mentored me for 4 years. He had a huge impact on not only us at @sundevilmgolf but so many within the golf community.
— James Byrne (@jamesbyrne89) January 2, 2020
He will be sorely missed.
RIP, Coach. pic.twitter.com/sFFxCX9wNu
Very sad day indeed. Randy should be on everyone's list as one of the finest coaches, mentors, leaders and friend. Randy is simply a great person and I was fortunate to have him as a friend.
— Tim Alai (@tim_alai) January 2, 2020
#ASUgolf #CollegeGolf #Coach Stunned by the news about former ASU men's golf coach Randy Lein...I'm beyond words right now...he was beloved by his players, ASU people, colleg golf and us sportswriters...one of nicest people college golf has given us....RIP Randy ??????
— Rick Bullock (@golfpilotrick) January 2, 2020