NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion University has hired Austin Phillips as its men’s golf head coach, Athletics Director Dr. Wood Selig announced on Thursday. Phillips has spent the previous three seasons as the head men’s golf coach at the University of North Alabama.
“Austin Phillips has won everywhere he has been and we are excited for this new era of ODU men’s golf under the dynamic leadership and unbridled enthusiasm of Coach Phillips,” Selig said. “I want to complement our search chair, Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director, Kieran Donohue, and members of the search committee, Danielle Cohea and Dr. Michael Reutt, for their efficient and strategic men’s golf head coaching search. They were able to quickly vet a deep and talented pool of candidates while targeting some of the nation’s elite golf coaches. The search committee landed an absolute winner in Austin Phillips. I know our ODU and Hampton Roads golf communities will embrace Austin and his family as they begin their ODU journey.”
In just five seasons as a head coach, Phillips led Cameron University (Okla.) and North Alabama to new heights in men’s golf. At UNA, Phillips led the program to its highest end of season ranking in Division I history, with a No. 100 ranking this past season. He has helped lead two individual golfers to the NCAA Tournament the last two years and a berth in the National Golf Invitational.
“The opportunity to be the next men’s golf coach of ODU is exciting for me and my family,” Phillips said. “The ODU and Hampton Roads communities will be great to be a part of, and we are excited to move there. I want to thank Dr. Selig and the search committee for this opportunity. There is a lot of history in this program and I’m glad I can be a part of it. It is an honor to follow Murray (Rudisill), and I know the team will be ready to go this fall.”
At UNA, Phillips led the program to six tournament wins and had four players earn All-ASUN honors. Three of his players finished in the top 10 at the ASUN Tournament. The 2024-25 season saw the team finish in fourth place at the ASUN Tournament, the best finish in program history.
Phillips earned his first head coaching job at Division II Cameron in 2021. In his two years with the program, he coached four all-conference players, two freshmen of the year, and one academic player of the year. He also earned coach of the year honors in 2021-22 and led Cameron to two NCAA Regionals.
Prior to Cameron, Phillips spent time as the Tournament Administrator at the Carolinas PGA Section, where he had a variety of duties. Prior to that, he worked for the Golf Coaches Association of America, working tournament operations for the GCAA Amateur Golf Series.
Phillips gained his initial Division I experience as an assistant coach at Ohio University. He assisted the head coach in all aspects of running the program, including helping in the success and development of second-team All-MAC performer Zach Crawford.
“We are thrilled to name Austin Phillips as the head coach of our men’s golf program,” Donohue said. “Austin is one of the best young head coaches in the country. His passion and vision for leading our golf program coupled with his commitment to the development of our student-athletes, on and off the golf course, aligns seamlessly with our core values and goals. Austin has the experience, work ethic, and motivation to lead ODU men’s golf to new heights. We are excited to welcome Austin and his family to our Monarch community.”
Phillips replaces Dr. Murray Rudisill, who retired after 51 years as the longest tenured head coach in ODU history.