Former Anderson University head golf coach joins Tigers’ staff.
CLEMSON, S.C. — Head Coaches Jordan Byrd and Kelley Hester announced the hiring of Austin Castles as the programs’ director of operations on Wednesday.
Castles previously served as the head men’s golf coach at Anderson University and finished his second year at the helm in 2024-25. He led the men’s program to its second-straight third-place finish, while two earned All-Conference honors and earned individual bids to compete at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Championship. On the women’s side, Castles aided in taking the team all the way to the NCAA National Semifinals – their fourth consecutive trip to Nationals and second Final Four appearance.
In his first season at Anderson, Castles led the men’s program to a third-place finish in the South Atlantic Conference and assisted Director of Golf Denton Moore to a third-consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships with the women’s team.
Prior to his time at Anderson, Castles spent five seasons as the men’s and women’s assistant coach at Erskine College – his alma mater. During his time in this position, Castles coached 17 all-conference athletes across the men and women’s programs, including the 2016 Conference Carolinas Women’s Player of the Year, Krysta Schaus, 2021 Division II First Team All-American, Alberto Avila Dominguez, 2022 Conference Carolinas Men’s Freshman of the Year, Laurenz Meifels, 2022 Conference Carolinas Women’s Freshman of the Year, Amanda Guzman and 2023 Conference Carolinas Men’s Player of the Year, Men’s Freshman of the year and 2023 NCAA DII South/Southeast Regional Selection, Tom Bastow.
While a student-athlete at Erskine, Castles contributed to the Flying Fleet earning three-straight NCAA South/Southeast Regional appearances (2013, 2014, 2015), the highest ranking in program history (5th nationally) and the 2014 Conference Carolinas Championship. Individually, Castles won the 2014 Earl Wooten Championship.
Castles spent his prep career at both T.L Hanna High School in Anderson, S.C. as well as Wren High School in nearby Piedmont, S.C. before going to play collegiately for Erskine.
Castles has also spent time in logistics and fundraising, as well as caddying at McArthur Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. He also spent some time in 2022 caddying in the upstate for local professional golfers Corbin Mills and Carson Young on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Castles is the great-grandson of former…
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