Coach Braaten is headed into his fifth season on the staff of the Golden Eagle men's and women's golf teams. In 2025, Braaten received a promotion to Associate Head Coach after acting as the Assistant Coach of the men's and women's golf programs for four seasons.
Last year, Braaten played a pivotal role in assisting the ORU men's golf team to a historic season, helping secure the program's first Summit League Championship title in 15 years. His leadership and strategic on-course coaching were critical to a coaching staff that propelled the Golden Eagles to new heights, culminating in a Summit League Conference Championship and berth in the 2025 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships, where they competed in the Bremerton Regional and shot the best round of the tournament the last day.
Braaten's impact extended beyond team performance as he was instrumental with Coach Watson in the individual success of junior standout
Kevin An. An captured the Summit League Individual Title following a dramatic three-way playoff at the league championship, becoming ORU's first individual champion since Jack Howes claimed the honor in 2021.
The team's remarkable achievements earned widespread recognition across the league and nation. Head Coach
Lance Watson was named Summit League Coach of the Year, a testament to the coaching staff's collective excellence, while
Kevin An was honored as the Summit League Golfer of the Year, highlighting the individual talent. These accomplishments underscored one of ORU's most successful seasons in recent program history with the majority of the team returning.
