Aaron Puetz enters his fifth season after being announced as UTEP's head coach on Aug. 6, 2021. Puetz (pronounced PITTS) came to UTEP from South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, where he has spent seven seasons, including the last three years as the head coach for the Cougars.
In his fourth season at the helm of the UTEP men’s golf program, Puetz directed the Miners to the Conference USA Men’s Golf Championship match play final for a second consecutive season. UTEP, seeded fourth, upset top-seeded Liberty, 3-2, in the semifinals. The two programs were knotted up before Max Schliesing defeated the Flames’ Ike Joy in a one-hole playoff. After the pair was tied up for seven straight holes to force the playoff, Schliesing won by a stroke as he sank a 10-foot birdie putt on hole 1 (par 4, 400 yards), surging the Miners to the conference final.
Overall, the Miners played in 12 tournaments and fashioned a 289.4 stroke average during the 2024-25 campaign. UTEP had a second-place showing at the Los Vaqueros Intercollegiate in Cancun, Mexico, on Feb. 2-4. Dylan Teeter (1-under par 215) was tied for fourth overall and Schliesing (1-over par 217) tied for seventh. Teeter finished tied for first at a pair of events, as he penciled in a tied for first-place finish at 13-under par 203 at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, and shot 9-under par 207 at the Myrtle Beach Golf Trips Intercollegiate. Schliesing finished second overall at the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate at 4-under 212. Following their efforts during the regular season, Schliesing, ranked no. 127 in the nation, and Teeter, ranked no. 214, both advanced to the NCAA Reno Regional on May 12-14. It’s been seven seasons since a Miner competed at NCAA regionals as an individual, and at least three decades since multiple Miners advanced. True freshman Alexandre Godin made a positive impression in his first season with the Miners, fashioning a 74.3 stroke average. He was the ‘top Miner’ at the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate. Godin finished tied for 13th at the CUSA Championship at 1-under par 215.
Schliesing was named to the 2025 All-CUSA first team, while Teeter was honored as an All-CUSA second team member. For Teeter, it is his second consecutive All-CUSA second team honor, following his selection in 2024. Schliesing earned his second all-conference honor as he was named All-CUSA second team in 2023. Schliesing is also the first Miner since 2017 (Fredrick Dreier and Aaron Terrazas) to earn first team recognition.
Patrick Foley was named to the 2024-25 NCAA Division Cobalt Golf All-America Scholar. In the classroom, Foley is majoring in finance analysis and has worked towards a 3.68 GPA. Foley concluded his sophomore campaign on the links with the Miners. He fashioned a stroke average of 74.8, playing in 11 tournaments during the season. He shot a season-low round of 68 in the second round at The Clerico, while his lowest 54-hole round was a 219 at the Mark Simpson Invitational.
The Miners enjoyed a successful campaign under Puetz’s direction during the 2023-24 season. UTEP made a run in the 2024 Conference USA Men’s Golf Championship and advanced to match play on April 25 at Texarkana Country Club. The Miners defeated top-seeded LA Tech, 3-2, in the semifinals before facing Liberty. It was the first time since 2017 that UTEP had advanced that far in the postseason tournament. The Miners went on to match play after their fourth-place finish. UTEP climbed a spot from fifth after shooting even-par 288 in the third round. Greg Holmes finished as the top Miner, tied for 10th place overall.
A trio of Miners were recognized as All-CUSA performers to add to the success. Dylan Teeter was announced as All-CUSA second team, Holmes was All-CUSA third team, and Patrick Foley was honored to the CUSA All-Freshman team. Multiple Miners were selected for the all-conference team for the first time in six seasons, and it was the initial occasion since 2016 that a UTEP golfer made the all-freshman squad. Sebastian Sandin and Jacob Presutti each won matches in the final, while Teeter, Presutti and Foley won their matches in the semifinals.
The Miners penciled in seven top-10 finishes and five top-five performances. UTEP’s best regular-season finish was a tied for second at the Los Vaqueros Intercollegiate in Cancun, Mexico, on Feb. 5-7. UTEP shot 311 to open the tournament but finished strong with a 288 in the second round and a 289 in the third to shoot 24-over par 888. The Miners fired 10-under par 854 at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational at Colorado National Golf Club on Oct. 2-3. UTEP concluded the fall schedule at The Clerico on Oct. 23-24 and finished in third place (286-283-289—858). The Miners shot a season-best 281 in the third round on their way to a fourth-place finish at the Gaucho Invitational on April 8-9. UTEP fired a 16-under par 848 (285-282-281) to conclude the regular season at Sandpiper Golf Club in Santa Barbara, Calif., and took that momentum to the CUSA Championship. Sandin had a good showing at the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational, where he competed as an individual. Sandin finished tied for fifth after firing a 4-under par 212 (72-71-69).
During Puetz’s second season with the Miners, Max Schliesing was named to the 2023 Men’s Golf All-Conference USA second team. Schliesing, who transferred to UTEP from Houston-Victoria prior to the 2022-23 season, led the Miners with a team-best 72,.5 stroke average in his first season. Schliesing played in 11 tournaments, finishing as the top Miner in seven events and placing in the top 10 four times.
UTEP’s best finish was a third-place showing out of 16 teams at the competitive Little Rock Invitational on Oct. 17-18. The Miners shot a 10-over par 874 (292-289-293) at Chenal Country Club.
Jacob Presutti tallied a 73.5 stroke average, second best on the team while Marcus Khaw, in his final season with the Miners, shot 73.8 – third best.
Khaw and Schliesing were named 2022-23 GCAA All-America Scholars for NCAA Division I.
Following Puetz’s first season at the helm, El Paso product led the Miners with a 72.7 stroke average, while placing in the top 10 on a pair of occasions. UTEP’s best finish was a third-place showing at the Bayou City Collegiate (hosted by Rice) in Montgomery, Texas. The Miners shot 22-over 886 par at Walden on Lake Conroe Golf Club.
Since joining the South Mountain Community College staff in 2014, Puetz helped lead SMCC to three NJCAA Division II National Championships (2015, 2016 and 2019) while sending numerous student-athletes on to four-year universities.
Puetz was voted the 2019 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year following his first season at South Mountain. In his first season at the helm of the program, he guided the Cougars to a No. 1 national ranking and their third NJCAA Division II National Championship in four years. Most recently, the team finished as national runners-up at the 2021 NJCAA Division II National Championships.
Prior to his time at South Mountain, Puetz was the golf coach at TS Golf, LLC in Phoenix following a professional golf career that spanned eight years from 2006 to 2013. He was also a member of the Northern Iowa Men’s Golf team in 2002-03.
During his first four seasons at South Mountain, Puetz served as an assistant coach and served all aspects of the program, including development, recruiting, fundraising and academics. He was part of a program that captured back-to-back NJCAA Division II National Championships in 2015 and 2015, while the team won four Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Championships and 31 tournament victories from 2014 to 2018.
In August of 2018, Puetz was promoted to head coach for the Cougars and led the program to the 2019 NJCAA Division II National Championship after his squad won all 12 events that year. Puetz also successfully executed a fundraising campaign to fund the golf program.
While at South Mountain, Puetz coached three Phil Mickelson Freshmen of the Year, two Arnold Palmer Award winners, three All-Nicklaus Team members, eight academic all-scholars, 10 GCAA All-Americans and was three times named the ACCAC Champions after capturing 25 tournament wins over three years.
Under his tutelage, Cougar student-athletes have collected a combined 30 All-American selections and 34 All-ACCAC accolades. Off the course, SMCC was named the 2018 NJCAA Academic Team of the Year with a 3.81 GPA. They were also named the 2020 Academic National Champions by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
Over the course of his career, Puetz has specialized in golf instruction with the use of Trackman and SAM Putt lab and tournament competition. He taught more than 3,500 golf lessons and clinics for 50 or more participants during his professional career. He also won six mini-tour events as a professional and has experience caddying on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Puetz is an active member of the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). He earned his bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from the University of Northern Iowa in 2006. Despite a shortened collegiate career due to injuries, he rehabbed his way back, never finishing outside of the top 10 in amateur events before turning professional in 2006.
He went on to play professionally and accumulated several wins on mini-tours across the country. He also has caddied on the PGA Tour and coached several professional athletes.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT COACH PUETZ …
“Aaron Puetz has established himself as one of the top up-and-coming collegiate golf coaches in the country. His record at South Mountain has been impressive and he will do great at UTEP and the D-1 level. Aaron understands what it takes to achieve academic and athletic excellence.”
Conrad Ray
The Knowles Director of Men’s Golf – Stanford University
“Aaron is definitely one of the best up-and-coming young stars in college coaching. UTEP has made a great hire in Aaron. I’ve known Aaron for eight years and instantly our program was successful. Aaron is a proven winner and just gets it. I know that he will be successful quickly and he and Marie will be great in El Paso”
Andy Walker
Head Golf Coach - VCU
“Coach Puetz is a tremendous hire for UTEP. He has had huge success at South Mountain. His enthusiasm, personality, competitiveness and work ethic will be a great asset to UTEP and the entire El Paso community.”
Roy Edwards
Head Golf Coach - University of Colorado
“Coach Puetz is a tremendous coach having enjoyed success with multiple winning teams. He understands how to build a roster and he is very familiar with the Southwest. I know he is ready to take advantage of the opportunity at a program rich with history. He is a great communicator, a high-energy personality, and a perfect coach for today’s student-athlete. He will serve his team members and the entire UTEP Golf program with pride and class and I have no doubt he will elevate those around him.”
Jim Anderson
Head Men’s Golf Coach – The University of Arizona
“UTEP just hired one of the best young coaches in the country in Aaron and an even better person. His ability to connect with his players and get them to perform at an elite level is what makes him so good! I know that Aaron and his wife Marie will make an immediate impact both on the golf course and in the El Paso community.”
Jake Harrington
Director of Golf – University of Arkansas-Little Rock
