Anderson University

2024-25
In Year 2 at the helm, Castles led the men's side to their second-straight third-place conference finish. Men's golf stalwarts, senior Simon Wright and Jamie Markwick, both earned All-Conference honors, as well as two individual bids to compete at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Championships. Sophomore Sam McMillan was named the 2024-2025 SAC Men's Golf Elite 23 winner. On the women's side, Castles aided Moore in taking the team all the way to the NCAA National Semifinals--their fourth-straight trip to Nationals and second Final Four appearance in four years. All five starters on the women's team earned All-SAC honors, with three selected as All-Americans.

2023-24
Castles wrapped up his first year with the Trojans in Spring 2024, leading the men’s program to a third-place South Atlantic Conference finish and assisting Director of Golf, Denton Moore, to a third-consecutive appearance at NCAA National Championships with the women’s team. 

Named the Trojans Head Men’s Golf Coach and Assistant Women’s Golf Coach on August 1st, 2023, Austin Castles joined the Black and Gold following five seasons as the Men’s and Women’s Assistant Golf Coach at his alma mater, Erskine College.  

Castles spent his prep career at both T.L Hanna High School in Anderson, SC (2007-2009) as well as Wren High School in nearby Piedmont, SC (2009-2011), before going to play collegiately for Erskine. While at Erskine, Castles contributed to the Flying Fleet earning three-straight NCAA South/Southeast Regional appearances (2013, 2014, 2015), the highest ranking in program history (5th nationally) and the 2014 Conference Carolinas Championship. Individually, Castles won the 2014 Earl Wooten Championship.  

Following his tenure on the team, Castles remained at Erskine, assuming the role of Assistant Coach for the Flying Feet golf programs through two stints over five years (2015-2018, 2021-2023). During his time in this position, Castles coached 17 all-conference athletes across the men and women’s programs, including the 2016 Conference Carolinas Women’s Player of the Year, Krysta Schaus, 2021 Division II First Team All-American, Alberto Avila Dominguez, 2022 Conference Carolinas Men’s Freshman of the Year, Laurenz Meifels, 2022 Conference Carolinas Women’s Freshman of the Year, Amanda Guzman and 2023 Conference Carolinas Men’s Player of the Year, Men’s Freshman of the year and 2023 NCAA DII South/Southeast Regional Selection, Tom Bastow. 

While away from Erskine, Castles spent time in logistics and fundraising, as well as caddying at McArthur Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. He also spent some time in 2022 caddying in the upstate for local professional golfers, Corbin Mills and Carson Young, on the Korn Ferry Tour.  

Castles is the great-grandson of former Anderson University (College at the time) Athletic Director, tennis coach and professor, Max Grubbs.  

Cheese earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Erskine College in 2015. He and his wife, Megan reside in Starr, SC along with their daughter, Cora.