BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Longtime Western Washington University Director of Golf Luke Bennett has announced he is stepping away from his position to pursue other professional opportunities outside of college golf.
 
Bennett has served as the WWU men's coach since the 2013-14 season and oversaw both the men's and women's programs as the Director of Golf since 2018-19. Prior to becoming the men's head coach, Bennett was an assistant coach for the Vikings after an All-American career as a student-athlete from 2002-06. Including time as a player, assistant coach and head coach the Bellingham native has spent the last 25 years associated with the WWU golf program.
 
In his role leading the men's golf program, Bennett guided the Vikings to the NCAA Championships West Regional every season as head coach, continuing the strong program tradition that has had the program compete in the regional every season since joining the NCAA in 1998-99. The men's team won six GNAC titles, and the women earned two conference trophies under Bennett's watch.
 
Luke Bennett Coaching Accomplishments:

• 8 GNAC team titles (Men – 6, Women – 2)
• 9 GNAC Golfers of the Year (Men – 5, Women – 4)
• 10 GNAC Coach of the Year awards
• 68 GNAC Golfers of the Week (Men – 46, Women – 22)
• 89 All-GNAC Awards (Men – 56, Women – 33)

 
Bennett earned 10 GNAC Coach of the Year awards – eight with the men's program – and has been voted the Coach of the Year five consecutive times. The men's program featured five GNAC Golfers of the Year under Bennett and two All-Americans, with the women's team earning four GNAC Golfer of the Year honors and one All-American. Last season, the men's program won the West Regional championship and placed 16th nationally, led by First Team All-American and Nicklaus Award finalist Conrad Brown.
 
"It has been an incredible honor to lead the Viking golf programs and be part of the WWU community for the last 25 years," said Bennett. "I'm especially grateful for the players I've had the privilege to coach and the relationships we've built along the way. While I'm stepping away from coaching, I'll always be proud to call myself a Viking."
 
In addition to appearing in the men's golf West Regional each season, the Vikings made three appearances at the national championship during Bennett's tenure. The women's program made consecutive regional appearances in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and Lauren Lee qualified for nationals as an individual earning All-America honors the last two seasons.
 
A longstanding member of the golf community and competitor in several Pacific Northwest amateur golf events, Bennett will remain involved with the game as an instructor at the Bellingham Golf & Country Club.
 
WWU Athletics will have an announcement in the coming days naming an interim Director of Golf for the 2026-27 season and assistant coaches to guide the team for the upcoming season.