SAN DIEGO – San Diego men's golf head coach Chris Riley on Tuesday afternoon announced his departure from the Torero program to pursue other professional endeavors.

"We are extremely grateful for the program Chris has built in his hometown over the past seven years," said USD Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Athletics Kimya Massey. "Under Chris, our team has reached a standard of being a regular NCAA Regional participant under his leadership and we can't thank him enough for his time, dedication, and pursuit of excellence in all aspects for our young men who have been a part of this program."

"San Diego is a mecca of golf in this country, and Chris has won championships while keeping some of the area's finest talent at home. We will miss his presence, energy, and spirit, as he has made this program a perennial competitor. We wish him well in his future endeavors and in spending more time with his family, and we will move efficiently but with diligence to find the new leader for our program."

After a successful professional career that included competing in over 330 PGA Tour events, representing the USA in the 2004 Ryder Cup, and reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 21, Riley took the helm of USD golf in June 2017, becoming the seventh head coach to lead the program. Over his seven-year tenure, the Toreros secured four consecutive postseason berths, including five appearances in the NCAA Regionals and a notable presence in the 2020-2021 NCAA Championship.

This year's campaign saw San Diego secure its first WCC Championship since 2008 by winning at Gold Mountain Golf Club. USD got stronger as the 2023-2024 season went on, winning the Lamkin Invitational (March 4-5) at its home course (San Diego Country Club) and placing second at both the Pauma Valley Invitational (March 18-19) and the El Macero Classic (April 12-14) before taking home the conference title in Bremerton, Washington. The Toreros' 2024 WCC Championship earned them a spot in the NCAA Rancho Santa Fe Regional, which USD hosted at The Farms Golf Club.

Riley's successful 2023-24 regular season was punctuated by a WCC Men's Golf Coach of the Year honor and All-WCC First Team selections for Craig Ronne, who won the Lamkin Invitational at San Diego Country Club in March and Andi Xu, a Rancho Santa Fe native who notched four Top-10 finishes this season in addition to advancing as an individual from the NCAA Rancho Santa Fe Regional to the NCAA National Championship in Carlsbad.

"I want to thank the University of San Diego and the wonderful people I have met working here," Riley said. "After seven years, now is my time to go, and focus on some family matters. I appreciate everyone's support, from President Harris, to Athletic Director Kimya Massey, who I respect tremendously."

"The relationships I have made at USD will last a lifetime," Riley added. "And I will always be a Torero."

A national search for the next head coach of San Diego men's golf is underway.