Utah State University Athletics

Dean Johansen is in his 27th season as the head golf coach at Utah State and his 29th year overall with the program as he also spent two years as an assistant under former head coach Dan Roskelley.
 
Johansen, who is also the golf professional at the Logan Golf & Country Club, was named the 2013 Utah Section Professional Golfers’ Association of America Teacher of the Year.
 
Johansen led Utah State to one of its best seasons during the 2024-25 campaign, culminating in a second-place finish at the 2025 GOLFWEEK National Golf Invitational Championship, held at the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Arizona. Playing in just it’s second-ever postseason tournament, Utah State shot a 19-under 845 (277-282-286), which is the second-best 54-hole score in program history.  Sophomore Enrique Karg claimed medalist honors at the tournament with a 12-under 204 (65-70-69), which is tied for the seventh-best 54-hole score in program history. It was the 30th time that an Aggie has ever won at least a share of a tournament title.
 
Karg, who tied for medalist honors at the 2024 Northern Colorado Spring Invitational, ranks tied for second all-time in program history with his two victories.
 
Utah State also posted a sixth-place finish at the 2025 Mountain West Championship with a 16-under 848 (286-279-283) at the Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell, Oregon. Senior Esteban Jaramillo led USU with a 4-under 212 (69-73-70) to tie for 19th. USU's sixth place finish is its best in a conference tournament since also finishing sixth at the 2013 Western Athletic Conference Championships. Its best finish prior to that was a fourth-place finish at the 2009 WAC Championships. USU's 16-under 848 is its best-ever 54-hole score at a conference tournament and third-best overall in school history. Additionally, all five Utah State golfers finished the tournament under par – which is a first in program history.
 
Utah State placed in the top 10 in eight of its 10 tournaments during the year, including a trio of runner-up finishes. During the fall, Utah State placed second at the Air Force-hosted Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational with a 5-under 859 (290-285-284) at the Eisenhower Golf Club, Blue Course. USU also placed second at the Utah Collegiate Shootout with an 18-under 558 (285-273) at the Sunbrook Golf Club in St. George, which is the second-best 36-hole score in program history, and finished third at the Monterrey Collegiate Classic with a 15-under 849 (285-281-283) at the Club Campestre Monterrey, which is tied for the seventh-best 54-hole score in program history. USU’s 15-under 273 during the second round of the Utah Collegiate Classic is the best round in program history, while its 11-under 277 during the first round of the GOLFWEEK National Golf Invitational Championship is tied for the eighth best.
 
Utah State set seven school records during the 2024-25 season. The Aggies posted a stroke average of 287.66, breaking the previous mark of 288.88 set in 2019-20. They recorded 18 rounds under par, surpassing the former record of 12 from 2023-24, and logged 18 rounds of even-par or better, topping the previous best of 13, also from 2023-24. USU finished six tournaments under par, doubling the old record of three set in 2019-20. Utah State’s 16-under 848 at the Mountain West Championship is its best-ever 54-hole score at a conference tournament and third-best overall in school history. All five Aggie golfers finished the MW Championship under par – which is a first in program history for any tournament. Utah State’s 15-under 273 during the second round of the Utah Collegiate Classic is the best round in program history. USU also carded three of the top eight 54-hole scores in program history.
 
Arronte led Utah State in 2024-25 with a stroke average of 71.69, which ranks as the third-best in program history. He had 18 par-or-better rounds and 15 under-par rounds, both of which rank third all-time in school history.
 
Utah State had a pair of Aggies shoot 7-under 65 during the season, which is tied for the ninth-best round in program history. Karg shot a 7-under 65 during the first round of the GOLFWEEK National Golf Invitational Championship. Graduate John Cook shot 7-under 65 twice during the season, both during his second round, at the GOLFWEEK National Golf Invitational Championship and at the Utah Collegiate Shootout.
 
Jaramillo was the lone Aggie to be honored by the Mountain West during the season as he was named the MW Co-Golfer of the Week following his performance at the Wyoming-hosted Cowboy Classic as he carded a 54-hole score of 3-under 213 (69-71-73) to tie for 21st place.
 
Utah State had four golfers earn Academic All-MW honors in Arronte, Cook, Jaramillo and graduate Cole Enlow. Cook, Enlow, Jaramillo and senior Luis Canto also garnered MW Scholar-Athlete honors, while Jaramillo was named a College Sports Communicator Academic All-District honoree. Furthermore, Cook, Enlow and Jaramillo were all named Cobalt All-American Scholars, while USU also earned the Golf Coaches Association of America Academic Team Award.
 
During the 2023-24 season, Utah State won a pair of tournaments and finished in the top 10 in four other competitions as it had a stroke average of 289.85, which ranks as the fourth-best in program history.
 
Utah State claimed the inaugural Monterrey Collegiate Classic at Club Campestre Monterrey in Mexico with a school-record 29-under 835 (280-277-278). The 29-under was 12 strokes better than the previous program record for a 54-hole score, which the Aggies shot during the 2022-23 season at the UC San Diego Invitational. Utah State's 11-under 277 in the second round is tied for seventh all-time in school history for an 18-hole score.
 
Utah State also won the Northern Colorado Spring Invitational with a 36-hole score of 21-under 555 (274-281) marking the first time since the 1995-96 season that USU has won multiple tournaments in the same year.
 
Utah State concluded its 2023-24 season with a 10th place finish at the Mountain West Championships at 11-over 875 (294-276-305). Arronte led USU as he tied for 13th at even par 216 (71-66-79).
 
Utah State finished the season with 12 rounds under par, breaking the previous record of eight set during the 2015-16 season and tied during the 2022-23 campaign. USU also set the then school-record for rounds of even-par or better at 13. Arronte led the Aggies with a stroke average of 72.35 over 26 rounds. He finished first on the team in rounds in the 60s (7), top 10 (3) and top 20 (4) placings, and rounds under par (13).
 
At season’s end, Utah State had six golfers in Academic All-Mountain West honors in Cantu, Cook, Enlow, Jaramillo, graduate Josh Pehrson and freshman Ashton McArthur. Cantu, Jaramillo and Pehrson also garnered MW Scholar-Athlete accolades. Jaramillo also earned Cobalt All-America Scholar and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.
 
During the 2022-23 campaign, Utah State finished in 10th place at the Mountain West Championships. Jaramillo was the top placer for the Aggies as he carded a 2-under 70 in the final round and ended the tournament in a tie for 38th at 2-over 218 (75-73-70).

Utah State finished the season with eight rounds under par, which tied the school record (2015-16). The Aggies also had eight rounds of even par or better, which is tied for fourth all-time (2019-20), and they finished under par at two tournaments, which is also tied for fourth in program history.

Three of Utah State’s four scorers shot even par or better in the final round of the 2023 UC San Diego Invitational as the Aggies set the then-program’s 54-hole record with a score of 847 to tie for fourth at the picturesque Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California.

Jaramillo led Utah State in 2022-23 with a stroke average of 72.36. He had 15 par-or-better rounds, which is tied for third all-time in single-season school history.

Jaramillo, along with Cantu and Pehrson, each garnered College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors.

Furthermore, Cantu, Cook, Jaramillo, Pehrson, and junior Javier Vazquez garnered Academic All-MW accolades. Cantu, Jaramillo, Pehrson and junior Nathan Preslar were also recognized as MW Scholar-Athletes.

Under Johansen’s guidance during the 2021-22 season, Utah State finished ninth at the MW Championships. The 10th-seeded Aggies shot a final-round 3-over 291 on the 7,115-yard, par-72 Olympic Course at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Washington. For the tournament, USU shot 19-over 883 (293-299-291).

As a freshman, Jaramillo fired a 4-under 68 in the final round of the 2022 MW Championships to become the first Aggie to finish in the top 10 in a conference championship tournament since 2007. Jaramillo tied for ninth at 4-under 212 (74-70-68). He is also the first Utah State golfer to finish under par since Braxton Miller tied for 15th at 1-under 215 at the 2017 MW Championships.

Jaramillo was tabbed the MW Men’s Freshman of the Month in November after helping lead the Aggies to their best fall finish of the season at the 25th-annual CSUN-hosted Mark Simpson Invitational. USU tied for fifth in the 12-team field at 34-over par, while Jaramillo tied for fifth at 2-over 218.

Utah State recorded five top 10 finishes during the season, including a pair of top five placings. The Aggies’ best finish was at the UC San Diego Invitational, where they tied for third out of 14 teams at 9-over 873. During the second round of the UCSD Invitational, Utah State shot an 8-under 280, which ranks 10th in program history for lowest 18-hole team score.

Vazquez led the Aggies with a stroke average of 73.13 and seven rounds under par. He recorded four top-20 finishes, including tying for fifth at the UC San Diego Invitational.

In the classroom, Cantu, Jaramillo, Jesse Henderson and Cameron Tucker all garnered both MW Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-MW honors, while Cook and Purin Yingpisit earned MW Scholar-Athlete accolades.

During the 2020-21 season, which did not include the fall campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Johansen’s Aggies finished in the top 10 in all six of their tournaments, including placing in the top five on four occasions.

Utah State won the inaugural UC San Diego Invitational with a 29-over 893 (299-294-300), marking just the second time the Aggies have ever won a tournament on California soil. Individually, Colten Cordingley tied for first in the tournament at 2-over 218 (73-71-74).

Cordingley also paced the Aggies at the MW Championships as he tied for 32nd at 5-over 221 (73-74-74). Utah State finished 10th as a team.

Academically speaking, Henderson, Tucker, Cooper Wayment and Yingpisit garnered both Academic All-MW and MW Scholar-Athlete accolades, while Cordingley, Spencer Panter and Vazquez each earned Academic All-MW honor.

Under Johansen’s direction in 2019-20, which was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Aggies captured one tournament title and five top-10 finishes. Utah State won the Southern Utah-hosted Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational with a 3-under 573. It marked USU’s first tournament win since Oct. 17, 2017, when it claimed the tournament title at the Cal State Northridge-hosted Bill Cullum Invitational.

Off the course, Tucker was named a Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar, while also earning Academic All-MW and MW Scholar-Athlete honors. Cordingley, Hunter and Wayment also earned Academic All-MW accolades. Hunter and Wayment both garnered MW Scholar-Athlete honors, as well.

The 2018-19 season saw Utah State record five top 10 finishes, including placing third at the Southern Utah-hosted Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational with a 1-over 577 (293-284). USU also finished fifth at the CSUN-hosted Bill Cullum Invitational with a 2-over 866 (296-287-283).
 
Johansen also guided three Aggies to top 10 finishes as Lansford tied for eighth at the Southern Utah Invitational, Cordingley tied for eighth at the CSUN Invitational and Hess tied for fifth at the Southern Utah Invitational. USU also had two players earn Academic All-MW honors, while one Aggie was named a MW Scholar-Athlete.

During the Aggies’ 2017-18 season, Utah State recorded four top-10 finishes, including winning the CSUN-hosted Bill Cullum Invitational with a 16-under 848 (291-276-281) for its first tournament win since 2014, and its first-ever tournament title in the state of California. USU also finished runner-up at the Southern Utah-hosted Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational with a 2-under 574 (282-292).

Johansen coached three Aggies to top five finishes as Lansford placed third at the Southern Utah Invitational, Miller tied for third at the CSUN Invitational and Hayden Eckert tied for fifth at the Southern Utah Invitational. Furthermore, Eckert and Miller combined to record five more top 10 finishes during the season. Off the course, USU had four players earn Academic All-MW accolades.

During the 2016-17 season, Utah State posted nine top 10 finishes, highlighted by placing second at the Southern Utah-hosted Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational, as USU shot a 7-under 569 (285-284). The Aggies also shot a season-best 7-under 857 (293-276-288) at the South Dakota State Invitational, held in Las Vegas, Nev.

Academically, Utah State had two golfers earn Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-American honors in Tanner Jenson and Eli Rogers, while the Aggies also received the all-academic team award from the Golf Coaches Association of America. As for the Mountain West, USU had three golfers earn academic all-conference honors, while two players were named MW Scholar-Athletes.

During the Aggies’ 2015-16 season, Utah State recorded nine top-10 finishes, including two top-five placings with a season-best second-place finish at the OGIO Utah Invite, where the Aggies shot a season-best 15-under 837 (278-279-280). Johansen also guided a pair of Aggies to two top 10 finishes as Seokwon Jeon won the OGIO Utah Invite, while Jenson placed third at the same event and finished eighth at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic. For Jeon, it was his second-career event title, which are the second-most titles in school history.

Off the course, Utah State had three golfers earn Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-American honors in Jeon, Jenson and Rogers. USU also had golfers earn academic all-league honors, as well as three being named Mountain West Scholar-Athletes.

During the 2014-15 season, Utah State notched nine top-10 finishes, including three top-five places, highlighted by winning the Weber State-hosted Battle in the Tetons in Victor, Idaho, by carding a 7-under 857 (294-276-287) for its first tournament win since 2009. Johansen also coached a trio of Aggies to second-place individual finishes during the season as Jenson placed second at the Battle in the Tetons, Jeon finished second at the BYU-hosted PING Cougar Classic as he was named the Mountain West Men’s Golfer of the Week, and Grahm Schmaltz placed second at the Southern Utah-hosted Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational.

Along with all of its success on the course, Utah State also had six golfers honored for academic excellence during the 2014-15 season as six student-athletes earned Academic All-MW honors, while four were named MW Scholar-Athletes.

During Utah State’s 2013-14 season, Johansen coached a pair of Aggie golfers to back-to-back tournament wins as Tanner Higham shot an 8-under 205 (71-67-67) to win the Boise State-hosted Dash Thomas Memorial, while Jeon shot a 7-under 206 (67-71-68) to win the Utah Invitational the following weekend. Overall, it was the first time since 2004 that a Utah State golfer won medalist honors. In all, USU finished the season with nine top-10 finishes, including five top-five finishes, highlighted by tying for second at the Utah Invitational.

Also during the 2013-14 season, Utah State earned the All-Academic Team Award from the Golf Coaches Association of America for the second-straight year and was one of just 11 Division I men’s golf programs to earn President’s Special Recognition status for having a team grade point average of 3.4 or better. Furthermore, Higham was named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar for the second time in as many years.

During the 2012-13 season, Utah State had nine top 10 finishes in its 11 competitions, including a tie for third at the Weber State-hosted Battle at the Tetons. During the season, Utah State was one of just 79 Division I men’s golf programs to earn the All-Academic Team Award from the Golf Coaches Association of America with an overall grade point average of 3.265. Furthermore, Higham became the first Aggie golfer in school history to be named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar.

In 2012, Utah State notched eight top-10 finishes, while Higham tied for eighth at the Western Athletic Conference Championships with a 5-over 221.

In 2010, Utah State had four top-five finishes, including winning the 2009 Utah Collegiate Shootout.

In 2009, Johansen led the Aggies to a fourth-place team finish at the WAC Championships, with both Devin Daniels and Tyler Labrum finishing in the top 10. That fourth-place finish for USU was its best since placing fourth at the 1997 Big West Conference Championships. The Aggies also finished in the top 10 as a team in seven of the tournaments they participated in during the 2008-09 season.

In 2007, Johansen coached Daniels to a second-place individual finish at the WAC Championships as the sophomore carded a 7-under 209 with rounds of 69, 66 and 74.

In his first season as Utah State’s head coach, Johansen led the Aggies to a sixth-place team finish at the 2001 Big West Conference Championships, which was the best finish by a USU team in six years.

Johansen graduated from Utah State University in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He prepped at North Sanpete High School in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. He is the proud father of four boys, twins Duncan and Dawson, and Beckham and Roman.