Greg Allen is widely regarded as one of the premier golf coaches in the NCAA and enters his 19th season (2025–26) as head coach of Vanderbilt women’s golf. Since arriving on West End, he has built Vanderbilt into a consistent national contender, guiding the Commodores to 16 postseason appearances and 10 NCAA Championship berths, including a program-first run of five consecutive trips from 2010–14. Vanderbilt has reached the NCAA Championships four straight seasons, and if the Commodores advance again to Omni La Costa, it would tie the program’s longest streak at five consecutive national championship appearances. Under Allen’s leadership, Vanderbilt has captured 20 tournament titles, including three NCAA Regional championships and the 2014 SEC Championship, while also maintaining strong academic achievement and recognition across the SEC.
Allen brings deep championship and event-hosting experience to the College World Golf Championships Foundation board. He began his collegiate coaching career at the University of Texas in 1998 under legendary coach John T. Fields and credits that opportunity as foundational to his career. Nearly 30 years later, Allen is proud to serve alongside his mentor in helping advance the CWGCF mission and vision, creating a true home for the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships at a premier neutral-site venue on the West Coast, where student-athletes can enjoy a first-class championship experience with minimal disruption from weather delays.
In addition to his Vanderbilt tenure, Allen previously served as head coach at Arizona, where he won two Pac-10 championships, finished as NCAA runner-up in 2002, and coached numerous All-Americans, including future World Golf Hall of Famer and former LPGA No. 1 Lorena Ochoa. His background also includes seven years with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and extensive experience hosting major events, including the 2012 NCAA Women’s National Championship and the 2022 NCAA Franklin Regional (with Vanderbilt set to host again in 2027). In recognition of his impact on the sport, Allen was inducted into the WGCA Hall of Fame in 2021. A native of Beechmont, Kentucky, Allen graduated from Murray State with a degree in journalism. He and his wife, Sarah, are the parents of six children: Maggie, Mollie, Mason, Kylie, Mabry, and Blake.
