LAWTON — Cameron University athletic director Jim Jackson has announced the hiring of Austin Phillips to take over as the head coach of the Aggie men's golf program. 
 
"Coach Phillips is a great fit for Cameron and our men's golf program," stated Jackson about his new hire. "I am excited to have Austin join our family and I expect the program will rise to great heights under his leadership."
 
Phillips comes to Cameron after spending 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 is also a PGA Associate and has a USGA Expert Rules Certification.

At Ohio University, Phillips served as the assistant coach for the golf program, assisting the head coach in all aspects of running the program, including helping in the success of second team All-MAC performer Zach Crawford. He also served as the Assistant to the Associate Athletic Director for Facilities and Event Operations while in Athens. 
 
Phillips earned his undergrad from East Carolina University and then earned two masters from Ohio University. He grew up in Greenville, N.C. 

"I am excited to be a part of this program and part of a tradition like Cameron golf," said Phillips. "I knew when I walked on campus and saw the golf facilities for the first time that this would be a great place to be. I know it is sometimes hard when players go through coaching changes, but I want to come in and create a smooth transition that leads to immediate success. This is a team that can compete right away for a Lone Star Conference Championship and play further into the postseason. I want to continue creating an atmosphere and tradition of great Cameron golfers with great academics that are overall great people."
 
Like Phillips mentioned, the Cameron men's golf program has a win-now mindset, returning almost all of a squad that placed third at the LSC Championship last season and just missed out on the Regional Tournament. That group includes GCAA All-American Scholars Devin Whipple and Tyler Kaman as well as Joey Kirk and Preston Holmes, four of the five that combined to card an 887 at last year's league tournament, and veteran Donovan Osborne.
 
In addition to his returners, Phillips will also benefit from a great recruiting class that includes top Russian prep performer Alexey Karasev, Texas high school standouts Trevor Mierl and Hunter Drotts, and Australian Hamish Murray among others who will compete for a spot in the lineup this season. 
 
"This current roster is one of the main things that attracted me to Cameron. We have some many contributing returners on the team, but also an exciting group of freshman. It is a roster that can strive for immediate success, but still build to be successful in years to come. Last spring gives us plenty of optimism going forward that this upcoming season could be special. Our guys will compete on the course and in the classroom, which was highlighted by the three GCAA All-American Scholars last season, which goes with the reputation of being a Cameron golfer. I am excited about the opportunity to right a new exciting chapter in the program's history."
 
Phillips and the Aggies will have a few weeks to get acquainted before their first taste of action this fall, which will be the Western New Mexico hosted RJGA South Central Preview on Sep. 20-21 in Albuquerque, N.M.