Hankins has previous head coaching experience at Michigan State, Iowa and Nebraska.
As USC prepares to enter the Big Ten Conference next year, new men’s golf coach Mark Hankins stands poised to lead his team into a new era. He steps into this role with more knowledge of Big Ten golf than most, with successful head coaching stints at Michigan State, Iowa and Nebraska.
But aside from a familiarity with the region, Hankins also can draw on his previous roles in athletics administration — combined with his experience in the sport at the professional and international level — to give him his biggest edge at USC.
“This is an elite place,” Hankins said. “I played professional golf out here for a few years and lived in Southern California, and I realized how important golf is in certain areas of the country. You want to be at a place that really appreciates your sport.”
For new USC golf coach, a road back to college
A native of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Hankins began his collegiate career at Iowa State, where he was a first team all-conference golfer and academic all-American. After a successful collegiate career, Hankins played professionally on a few tours and PGA-qualifying tournaments around the country before deciding the life of a touring golfer wasn’t for him.