By Bret Strelow. BOONE, N.C. — Chan Metts, the reigning Big South Women’s Golf Coach of the Year who led Charleston Southern to an NCAA Regional berth thanks to its 2024 conference title, has been hired as the head coach for App State Women’s Golf, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin announced Thursday.
“We are excited to welcome Chan and his wife, Whitney, to the App State family,” Gillin said. “Chan has coached championship golf teams and individuals. He aligns with our core values of academic integrity, competitive excellence, social responsibility and world-class experience. We’re looking forward to the future of App State Women’s Golf under his leadership.”
A native of Dublin, Georgia, Metts was the head coach for both the women’s program and men’s program at Charleston Southern last season. He served as the head coach of WKU’s men’s program from 2018-23, guiding two individuals to NCAA Regional berths in his first season with the Hilltoppers, after being an assistant coach at Georgia Southern from 2016-18 and a graduate assistant at the University of Sioux Falls from 2015-16.
When Metts led Charleston Southern’s women to the Big South title earlier this year, it was the program’s first conference championship and NCAA team appearance in 14 years. The Buccaneers had the individual medalist at the Big South event and five all-conference performers.
“I want to thank Chancellor Heather Norris, Doug Gillin, Sarah Strickland and the search committee for giving me this exciting opportunity,” Metts said. “App State has a great reputation in college athletics, and I look forward to building on that history with the App State Women’s Golf team. My wife, Whitney, and I feel so blessed to join the App State family and look forward to embracing all that comes with being Mountaineers!”
In addition to placing first in the nine-team Big South field, Charleston Southern took first in a 10-team field at the Pine Tree Intercollegiate in late March. The Buccaneers had nine top-10 finishes in 10 events and five top-five finishes.
In Metts’ two seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia Southern, the Eagles claimed back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Sun Belt Conference Championship, with the 2017 team qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Metts has coached several future professionals, including Korn Ferry members Billy Tom Sargent at WKU and Stephen Fisk at Georgia Southern.
Metts got his start in the coaching world at Sioux Falls after playing collegiately at Georgia College and State University, where he joined the team as a walk-on in 2005 and later earned a scholarship. As a junior, he tied for 20th place at the conference tournament and seventh at the regional, nearly helping the Bobcats to a national tournament appearance.
Metts and his wife, Whitney, have been married 15 years.
What They Are Saying About Chan Metts
“As an alumna, I’m very happy to see Chan Metts take this role. I’m impressed with Chan and his commitment to the future success of App State Women’s Golf. Winning a conference championship is never easy, which shows he is more than capable of bringing the program to new levels.” – Georgia Southern head coach and App State graduate Mimi Burke
