Lauren (Harling) Austin was named Yale's Liu Family Head Coach of Women's Golf in 2019 following a successful stint at Indiana University, where she helped lead the Hoosiers to the school’s first NCAA Championship appearance since 2007.
She spent eight seasons on the staff at Indiana and was promoted to associate head coach in July of 2017. During her tenure, the Hoosiers made three appearances in the NCAA Regionals (2013, 2016, 2019). In 2019, IU finished 21st in the nation, the school’s best finish since 1998, and in 2018 Erin Harper qualified for the NCAA Championship as an individual.
Austin, who also served as Indiana’s recruiting coordinator, mentored a number of highly successful golfers. Harper graduated in 2019 with the lowest career scoring average (74.29) in school history and played on the Symetra Tour. In 2018, Mary Parsons finished with the best single-season stroke average (73.31) in program history. Parsons also holds the lowest 18-hole score (66) in school history. In 2016, Camille Chevalier was named second team All-Big Ten and earned WGCA All-American Scholar accolades. She went on to the Ladies’ European Tour where she was named the 2017 Rookie of the Year. In addition, Austin helped Elizabeth Tong to a pair of NCAA appearances and first team All-Big Ten honors in 2015, the first IU golfer on the first team since 2006. Tong went on to play professionally on the Symetra Tour.
Austin is a member of Women Leaders in College Sports, Alliance of Women Coaches, and the Women’s Golf Coaches Association. She graduated from the NCAA Women’s Coaches Academy in 2016. In addition, Austin completed her Master’s in Public Affairs from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs in May 2018. She received her undergraduate degree in 2008 from IU’s Kelley School of Business.
Prior to joining the coaching staff at IU, Austin spent one year as Director of College Placement for Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Austin's duties included advising the academy's students, who represent 28 countries and 30 states, as they prepare to play golf at the collegiate level. She also helped facilitate communication and planning between the Academy's students and college coaches. Part of her position was to heighten awareness of college golf recruiting through online webinars, newsletters and social media.
Prior to that she served as an instructor at Hank Haney IJGA from June 2009 through July 2010.
In 2008-09, Austin served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Hoosiers while completing her undergraduate degree.
Austin joined the Hoosier golf family in the spring of 2007 as a transfer from North Carolina State, where she spent her first two seasons. She had an immediate impact with Indiana as a junior, helping the Hoosiers make the 24-team NCAA Championship field in 2007, IU's first NCAA Championship appearance since 1998. In 2008, Austin and the Hoosiers advanced to the postseason for the second-straight year, appearing in the NCAA East Regional in Athens, Georgia.
Individually, Austin tied for 21st at the 2007 Big Ten Championships and tied for 21st at the 2007 NCAA Central Regional with a three-round score of 225.
As a senior, Austin competed in all 12 events, with the highlight coming at the 2008 Mountain View Invitational as she won her first-ever collegiate individual title with a three-round score of 215 (-1). Indiana also took home the team title at that event. She also tied for 23rd at the Big Ten Championships that season, one of five top-25 finishes, and earned a pair of Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors.
In her two seasons at N.C. State, Austin played in eight tournaments, highlighted by a tie for 35th at the NCAA East Regional in 2005. She was named the team's Most Improved Player for 2004-05 and was an ACC Scholar Athlete.
