PULLMAN, Wash. – Standout men's golf student-athlete and current assistant coach, Dustin White, has been named the Cougars head men's golf coach, Washington State Director of Athletics Bill Moos announced Thursday.
White replaces Garrett Clegg, who left after five seasons with the Cougars to take the head coaching position at his alma mater, Utah, earlier this month.
"I have been extremely impressed with Dustin's body of work throughout the past three seasons and believe he is the right person to continue moving Cougar golf forward," said Moos. "He has tremendous passion for WSU and the Pac-12, is well respected among his peers, and has the confidence of the returning players."
A 2003 graduate of Washington State, White returned to Pullman as the assistant men's golf coach in January of 2014. In his first complete season with WSU (2014-15), White helped the Cougars earn a title at the Pacific Invitational, WSU's fifth victory in four seasons. White assisted in the success of redshirt-senior Sang Lee, who averaged the fourth-best season scoring average in WSU history. Freshman Derek Bayley also showed growth under the guidance of White, with the lowest scoring average by a freshman in school history.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to be able to the lead the men's golf program at my alma mater," White said. "I'm passionate about everything that is Washington State and am excited for what lies ahead. We have a great group of young men and we will be working hard to compete for championships within the conference and beyond. Having competed here as a student-athlete, I am able to relate to what the guys go through on a daily basis and hope to play a role in helping them achieve their lifelong goals. I want to put Cougar Golf on the map and make the entire Washington State Cougar family proud."
This past season (2015-16), White help guide freshmen AJ Armstrong and Aaron Whalen, as they recorded the seventh and eighth lowest scoring average amongst WSU freshmen in school history, respectively. In his sophomore year, Bayley was just shy of WSU's top-10 for lowest scoring average with an average of 73.08 in 37 rounds.
In White's first season in Pullman, senior Blake Snyder was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention as he finished tied for fourth at the Pac-12 Championships, the best finish by a Cougar at the conference championships in school history.
During his time at WSU, White has also overseen the academic success of the Cougars with five Pac-12 All-Academic selections. During the 2013-14 season, Michael Anderson was named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar.
White returned to his alma mater after being a standout for the Cougars from 1999-2003. He was a three-time All-Pac-10 selection, including a first team honoree in 2002. That season, his junior campaign, he set a school record with eight top 10 finishes, earned his first-tournament victory and won a national player of the week honor.
As a sophomore, White began the season with a school-record tying 65 at the Northwest Classic in Corvallis, Ore. He earned one of his school record 17-career top 10 finishes at the event. He placed in the top 25 of a tournament 27 times, second in Cougar history.
A native of Pueblo, Colo., White was a winner on the Gateway Tour in 2004, 2006 and 2007. He played on the Nationwide Tour in 2005, 2009 and 2010. His career highlight came when he qualified for and participated in the 2006 U.S. Open.
White replaces Garrett Clegg, who left after five seasons with the Cougars to take the head coaching position at his alma mater, Utah, earlier this month.
"I have been extremely impressed with Dustin's body of work throughout the past three seasons and believe he is the right person to continue moving Cougar golf forward," said Moos. "He has tremendous passion for WSU and the Pac-12, is well respected among his peers, and has the confidence of the returning players."
A 2003 graduate of Washington State, White returned to Pullman as the assistant men's golf coach in January of 2014. In his first complete season with WSU (2014-15), White helped the Cougars earn a title at the Pacific Invitational, WSU's fifth victory in four seasons. White assisted in the success of redshirt-senior Sang Lee, who averaged the fourth-best season scoring average in WSU history. Freshman Derek Bayley also showed growth under the guidance of White, with the lowest scoring average by a freshman in school history.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to be able to the lead the men's golf program at my alma mater," White said. "I'm passionate about everything that is Washington State and am excited for what lies ahead. We have a great group of young men and we will be working hard to compete for championships within the conference and beyond. Having competed here as a student-athlete, I am able to relate to what the guys go through on a daily basis and hope to play a role in helping them achieve their lifelong goals. I want to put Cougar Golf on the map and make the entire Washington State Cougar family proud."
This past season (2015-16), White help guide freshmen AJ Armstrong and Aaron Whalen, as they recorded the seventh and eighth lowest scoring average amongst WSU freshmen in school history, respectively. In his sophomore year, Bayley was just shy of WSU's top-10 for lowest scoring average with an average of 73.08 in 37 rounds.
In White's first season in Pullman, senior Blake Snyder was named All-Pac-12 honorable mention as he finished tied for fourth at the Pac-12 Championships, the best finish by a Cougar at the conference championships in school history.
During his time at WSU, White has also overseen the academic success of the Cougars with five Pac-12 All-Academic selections. During the 2013-14 season, Michael Anderson was named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar.
White returned to his alma mater after being a standout for the Cougars from 1999-2003. He was a three-time All-Pac-10 selection, including a first team honoree in 2002. That season, his junior campaign, he set a school record with eight top 10 finishes, earned his first-tournament victory and won a national player of the week honor.
As a sophomore, White began the season with a school-record tying 65 at the Northwest Classic in Corvallis, Ore. He earned one of his school record 17-career top 10 finishes at the event. He placed in the top 25 of a tournament 27 times, second in Cougar history.
A native of Pueblo, Colo., White was a winner on the Gateway Tour in 2004, 2006 and 2007. He played on the Nationwide Tour in 2005, 2009 and 2010. His career highlight came when he qualified for and participated in the 2006 U.S. Open.