Auburn men’s golf head coach Nick Clinard announced Friday the hiring of new assistant coach Chris Williams.
Williams previously served as assistant coach at Marquette University from 2019-2021. There he oversaw the development of the the program’s career scoring average leader, Hunter Eichhorn. Eichhorn was named the Big East’s Player of the Year as well as PING All-American. Williams also made huge strides for the Golden Eagles on the recruiting trail by signing a pair of top-60 nationally ranked recruits.
Welcome and #WarEagle to our new assistant coach @ChrisF_Williams!https://t.co/9Awc2o1WFR
— Auburn Men's Golf (@AuburnMGolf) June 11, 2021
Collegiately Williams played for the University of Washington where he was a four-time All-American from 2009-2013. Williams led the Huskies in scoring from 2010-2013 after six tournament victories and 28 top-10 finishes.
After finishing ninth overall in the NCAA Championship Williams earned the title of PAC-10 Freshman of the Year and won the Mickelson Award which is delegated to the nation’s top freshman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtO9S6gxqyQ
As a junior he finished first in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for which he received the Mark H. McCormick Medal presented on behalf of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. Williams’ tenure in the top spot of the ranking spanned 46 weeks before he began his senior season.
As a senior Williams received the Ben Hogan Award which the NCAA bestows annually to college golf’s best performer.
In 2011 Williams golfed for Team USA in the Walker Cup and Palmer Cup. The following year he participated once again in the Palmer Cup as well as the World Amateur and in 2013 he competed in Copa De American.
Williams began his professional career in 2013 with contests in Canada’s Mackenzie Tour and Latin America’s PGA Tour. His 2013 top amateur appearance in the U.S. Open was his second as Williams’ first came two years before after he secured a spot with a win in a sectional qualifying event.
Coach Clinard was elated to welcome Williams to Auburn saying,
“I’m super excited to have Chris join us in our Auburn family. His pedigree from a golf standpoint speaks for itself as the former No. 1 amateur in the world and a participant in the 2011 Walker Cup. Playing professionally and being in that limelight will bring a lot to our team and to recruiting as well. He’s got a great eye for talent and he knows how to develop young people. He will be a tremendous asset to our program and our quest to win championships.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAu34srBhAQ
Williams feels “blessed” to be at Auburn and detailed his excitement and vision for his future with the program,
“I want to thank Coach Clinard and Auburn University for giving me the opportunity and taking a chance on me. I feel extremely blessed to be welcomed into the Auburn family and the culture that has been established. I’m very excited to be part of the successful golf program at Auburn and continue on the success that Coach Clinard has had during his tenure. I’m committed to helping the program continue to move in the right direction. I’m eager to invest in the student-athletes, help them reach their potential on and off the course and start competing for and winning national championships.”
Welcome to The Plains Coach Williams, and War Eagle!