University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Colton Cowan Named Southern Miss Head Women's Golf Coach
6/19/2024 11:22:00 AM | Women's Golf
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain announced Wednesday the hiring of Colton Cowan as the head women's golf coach.
"I am honored and humbled for the opportunity to lead the women's golf team here at Southern Miss," Cowan said. "I want to thank Jeremy McClain and Shawn Jones for the opportunity, and my wife Chrystal for the relentless love and support.
"During the hiring process, it was clear to see that the culture was one of the most important parts of this athletic program – there is a standard of excellence expected at Southern Miss. With the facilities and resources at our disposal, I expect nothing different. I'm excited to get to work with our ladies and continuing our trajectory of rising to the top!"
Cowan comes to Hattiesburg after spending the last three seasons as the head men's and women's golf coach at Henderson State. While in Arkadelphia, Cowan guided the Reddies to six Great American Conference Championships on both the men's and women's sides. He also helped both teams advance to three-straight NCAA DII Regionals, the women's team to three-straight NCAA DII National Championships and took the men's team to its first NCAA DII National Championships during the 2023-24 season. The women's team finished ninth, tied for third, and sixth in the nation in each of the last three seasons, respectively – they also won the NCAA DII Central Regional Tournament three-straight seasons. The men's team finished 12th in the nation this season. In total, Henderson State won 23 regular season tournaments under his tutelage.
"We are thrilled to welcome Colton and his family to Southern Miss," McClain said. "Colton brings a pedigree of success, an intense work ethic, and a burning desire to help his student-athletes reach their full potential. I look forward to watching our women's golf program flourish under his leadership."
Henderson State produced three-straight GAC Female Players of the Year and at least three All-Conference First Team members in each season. Cowan has also seen players earn three GAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year honors, at least one WGCA All-American each season, two First Team All-Americans, and four GCAA PING All-Americans.
The Reddies earned their second-consecutive top-eight national finish this season and earned a berth to the national semifinals last season. Their trip to the semifinals was one of the best postseason finishes in Henderson State history – only two other Henderson State programs have reached a national semifinal. Cowan was named the GAC Women's Coach of the Year and Women's Region Coach of the year in his first two seasons in Arkadelphia and was the Men's GAC Coach of the Year for the 2022-23 season.
Prior to Henderson State, Cowan spent two seasons as the assistant women's golf coach at Austin Peay. He helped the Governors to four top-five finishes during the 2019-20 season before it was shorted due to COVID-19. They finished in sixth at the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference Championships.
The Piedmont, Okla. native got his coaching career started at Southwestern Oklahoma as a graduate assistant for his alma mater. Cowan was a three-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs from 2014-17 and was the graduate assistant coach for both the men's and women's teams until 2019.
During his two seasons as a coach in Weatherford, Cowan helped secure two appearances in the NCAA Central Regional Tournament and led the women's team to a berth in the 2019 NCAA National Finals. At the 2019 NCAA DII Championships, Southwestern Oklahoma advance to medal match play before losing in the national semifinals. He helped produce six academic all-americans and two WGCA all-region players.
"I am honored and humbled for the opportunity to lead the women's golf team here at Southern Miss," Cowan said. "I want to thank Jeremy McClain and Shawn Jones for the opportunity, and my wife Chrystal for the relentless love and support.
"During the hiring process, it was clear to see that the culture was one of the most important parts of this athletic program – there is a standard of excellence expected at Southern Miss. With the facilities and resources at our disposal, I expect nothing different. I'm excited to get to work with our ladies and continuing our trajectory of rising to the top!"
Cowan comes to Hattiesburg after spending the last three seasons as the head men's and women's golf coach at Henderson State. While in Arkadelphia, Cowan guided the Reddies to six Great American Conference Championships on both the men's and women's sides. He also helped both teams advance to three-straight NCAA DII Regionals, the women's team to three-straight NCAA DII National Championships and took the men's team to its first NCAA DII National Championships during the 2023-24 season. The women's team finished ninth, tied for third, and sixth in the nation in each of the last three seasons, respectively – they also won the NCAA DII Central Regional Tournament three-straight seasons. The men's team finished 12th in the nation this season. In total, Henderson State won 23 regular season tournaments under his tutelage.
"We are thrilled to welcome Colton and his family to Southern Miss," McClain said. "Colton brings a pedigree of success, an intense work ethic, and a burning desire to help his student-athletes reach their full potential. I look forward to watching our women's golf program flourish under his leadership."
Henderson State produced three-straight GAC Female Players of the Year and at least three All-Conference First Team members in each season. Cowan has also seen players earn three GAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year honors, at least one WGCA All-American each season, two First Team All-Americans, and four GCAA PING All-Americans.
The Reddies earned their second-consecutive top-eight national finish this season and earned a berth to the national semifinals last season. Their trip to the semifinals was one of the best postseason finishes in Henderson State history – only two other Henderson State programs have reached a national semifinal. Cowan was named the GAC Women's Coach of the Year and Women's Region Coach of the year in his first two seasons in Arkadelphia and was the Men's GAC Coach of the Year for the 2022-23 season.
Prior to Henderson State, Cowan spent two seasons as the assistant women's golf coach at Austin Peay. He helped the Governors to four top-five finishes during the 2019-20 season before it was shorted due to COVID-19. They finished in sixth at the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference Championships.
The Piedmont, Okla. native got his coaching career started at Southwestern Oklahoma as a graduate assistant for his alma mater. Cowan was a three-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs from 2014-17 and was the graduate assistant coach for both the men's and women's teams until 2019.
During his two seasons as a coach in Weatherford, Cowan helped secure two appearances in the NCAA Central Regional Tournament and led the women's team to a berth in the 2019 NCAA National Finals. At the 2019 NCAA DII Championships, Southwestern Oklahoma advance to medal match play before losing in the national semifinals. He helped produce six academic all-americans and two WGCA all-region players.
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