AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn men's golf head coach Nick Clinard announced the addition of former world top amateur Chris Williams as an assistant coach.
"I'm super excited to have Chris join us in our Auburn family," Clinard said. "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."
Williams arrives on The Plains from Marquette University where he was an assistant coach during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
"I want to thank Coach Clinard and Auburn University for giving me the opportunity and taking a chance on me," Williams said. "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."
While with the Golden Eagles, Williams was instrumental in the development of Hunter Eichhorn, who was named the BIG EAST Player of the Year, PING All-American and became Marquette's career scoring average leader.
Williams was also busy on the recruiting trail after signing a pair of top-60 recruits nationally.
As a professional golfer, Williams competed in both the Mackenzie Tour in Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamérica after turning pro in 2013. He competed in a pair of U.S. Opens, one in 2011 after winning a sectional qualifying event, and in 2013 as the top amateur.
Williams was a four-time All-American at the University of Washington from 2009-13. While with the Huskies, he won six tournaments, earned 28 top-10 finishes and led the team in scoring his final three years.
The Moscow, Idaho native won the Ben Hogan Award as the NCAA's top golfer in 2013 and was also awarded the Mark H. McCormack Medal by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews as the leading player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2012.
Williams spent 46 weeks ranked as the top amateur in the world after earning the distinction prior to his senior year at Washington.
As a freshman, Williams was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and won the Mickelson Award as the country's top freshman after finishing ninth at the NCAA Championship.
Williams also competed for Team USA in the Walker Cup (2011), Palmer Cup (2011, 2012), World Amateur (2012) and Copa De American (2013).
