Bio

John Austin enters his third year as the head men's golf coach at Bethel University in 2023-24.

Bethel Associate Athletic Director Brad Chappell said, “I am really excited about the direction our golf programs are headed. The hiring of Larry Joe Smith for the women and John Austin for the men will continue that upward trend. I have known both of these men for decades. John and I attended Bethel together and Coach Smith and I have had many different relationships - teacher/student, coach/player, colleague, mentor and friend. Both are tuned in to the local golf scene and know what it takes to win. They are invested in our community and passionate about golf. I am really excited to bring these two guys on board and expect BU golf to continue finding success both on the course and in the classroom.”

Austin commented, “This will be my first year as the coach of the Bethel University Golf teams and I am really excited about this opportunity. I am a 1991 graduate of Bethel as well as a four- year member of the Wildcat golf team. I was an all-conference player and had the privilege to be part of the first team to participate in a national tournament for Bethel in 1991 in Oklahoma City. I met my wife Natalie Surber at Bethel in 1991 and we were married in 1992. We have two sons, Reed and Ben.” Austin added, “I look forward to continuing to grow the golf programs and growing men and women into champions both on and off the course.”

Austin is a native of Jackson, Tennessee, but has called McKenzie home since 1991 with a brief stint in Memphis for a few years. He has the last 29 years in the private sector business world dealing with medical, engineering and production.