JEAN-PAUL HEBERT CHOSEN TO LEAD UNLV MEN’S GOLF PROGRAM
Former All-American student-athlete, professional golfer and national assistant coach of the year comes to Las Vegas after helping Texas win 2022 NCAA Championship
Jean-Paul Hebert (pronounced “JOHN-PAUL A-bear”) has been named just the third full-time head coach in the proud history of the men’s golf program at UNLV, Director of Athletics Erick Harper announced Friday.
Hebert comes to Las Vegas after serving as assistant coach for the University of Texas’ men’s golf program for the past eight years. He helped lead the Longhorns to the 2022 National Championship earlier this month and was also a part of the program’s national title team in 2012. A former All-America selection as a student-athlete, Hebert was named the nation’s top assistant in 2020 when he earned the Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award.
“We are very excited to have Jean-Paul join the great Rebel Golf Family,” Harper said. “He comes highly recommended and has been a major part of the championship golf program at the University of Texas. He has worked for one of the best in the golf world in John Fields, who was a student-athlete and coach under another golf great in former UNLV Hall of Fame Coach Dwaine Knight. Jean-Paul is committed to excellence in the classroom, on the course and in the community, and we look forward to him leading our Rebel golf program to championships. The future of Rebel Golf is very bright.”
Overall, Hebert has been with the Longhorns as a coach for the past 12 seasons as he originally joined the program in a volunteer capacity. Since being hired full-time in 2014, he has assisted in 26 team wins and 23 individual victories, while helping recruit, coach and assist in the development of nine All-Americans, including 2022 Masters Champion and current No. 1-ranked player in the world Scottie Scheffler.
“I’ve had some great opportunities in the game of golf, and the opportunity here in Las Vegas is a special one,” Hebert said. “I want to thank Erick Harper, President (Keith) Whitfield, the UNLV community and the Rebel Golf family for their trust in me and their commitment to the program. Las Vegas is a ‘Can Do’ town, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.”
Michael “Chub” Drakulich became UNLV’s first full-time head golf coach in 1972 before Hall of Fame coach Dwaine Knight took over in fall 1987.
“Dwaine Knight and UNLV Golf have run synonymous for many years and I am honored to be chosen to follow in his footsteps, guiding our young men into the next chapter,” said Hebert. ”The student-athlete experience and a commitment to excellence will be our daily focus, and we will have some fun in the process. UNLV has been widely known for its competitive teams and great players – many of which have excelled on the PGA Tour – and we will continue to have an environment suited to help guys achieve that dream. I can’t wait to get started.”
With Hebert on staff, Texas won the Big 12 Conference title in 2015, 2016 and 2017, and in addition to the national titles, the squad posted runner-up finishes at the finals in 2016 and 2019, while tying for fifth in 2015 and 2018. On the academic front, the Longhorns have achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in each of the past seven semesters.
As a volunteer assistant coach for the program from 2010-14, Hebert assisted in 16 team wins and nine individual titles, while coaching six All-Americans, including three-time major champion Jordan Spieth. In addition to the 2012 national title, Hebert was a part of the 2013 and 2014 Big 12 Championship teams.
Following his playing career and before becoming a coach, Hebert spent nine years as an associate television producer working in live tournament production at the Golf Channel and CBS.
Hebert was a student-athlete at Texas from 1989-94. With Justin Leonard as a teammate, Hebert played a major part in leading the Longhorns to four Southwest Conference titles, and a second-place finish at the 1994 NCAA Championship his senior year. Individually, Hebert earned All-America honors in three straight seasons (1991-93), and was a four-time All-SWC selection. His 24 top-10 finishes throughout his collegiate career included a win at the 1992 Miami (Florida) National Collegiate, and a tie for third at the 1993 NCAA Championship.
Following his collegiate career, Hebert competed professionally. He is a member of the PGA of America, United States Golf Association and the Golf Coaches Association of America.
Born and raised in Houston, Hebert graduated with a bachelor of science degree in communications (1994). His father, Jay, was the 1960 PGA Champion and 1971 Ryder Cup Captain, and his uncle Lionel was the 1957 PGA Champion.
At UNLV, Hebert takes over one of the nation’s top collegiate golf brands. The Rebels qualified for an NCAA Regional for 31 consecutive years through 2019, which at the time was a national record, including 11 top-eight finishes and winning the national championship in 1998. The Rebels have also produced two individual national champions and UNLV alumni have earned 31 wins on the PGA Tour, including 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott.