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Southern Mississippi

The University of Southern Mississippi is a mid‑sized public university in Hattiesburg known for its friendly, welcoming campus, hands‑on programs, and strong performing arts and athletics culture. Students often rave about the charming oak‑lined Hattiesburg campus, the lively football game‑day scene, the many clubs and Greek life, and the easy access to the Gulf Coast from the Gulf Park campus.

State

Mississippi

Student Population

13,000

Acceptance Rate

96%

GPA Range

2.9–3.4

SAT Range

990–1190

Common Majors

business, nursing, psychology, education, kinesiology

“Campus feels like a small Southern town with big‑university resources, the student body is approachable and down‑to‑earth, the school culture is casual and party‑friendly around games, professors are easy to talk to but some classes can feel large, and exploring the Gulf Coast or joining Greek life and music‑related groups keeps outside‑school life from ever getting dull.”

Team & Tuition

Divison

Division 1

Tuition (no scholarship)

In-state: $9,618; Out-of-state: $11,618

Conference

Sun Belt Conference

Scholarships Available

Yes. Both athletic and academic.

Avg Men's Scores

73.12

Avg Women's Scores

74.87

Men's Team Notes

Golden Eagles men posted 293.7 team averages over Sun Belt Championship rounds, firing 287 second rounds with Burnham's T22 (145) leading Fernandez (146) and Javier (147). Depth from Dupuy and Amornchaichan fueled top-10 contention; steady par-4 play built postseason push on challenging layouts.

Women's Team Notes

Golden Eagles women achieved 298.1 adjusted averages across 24 rounds with Cuyvers' even-par 216 (T8) at ULM Invitational anchoring T21 from Trible. Multiple eagles and top-25s highlighted balance; strong regular-season finishes positioned regional contention amid firm Southern tracks.

Coaches

Men's Coach

Eddie Brescher

Women's Coach

Colton Cowan

Men's Email

Edmond.Brescher@usm.edu

Women's Email

colton.cowan@usm.edu

Men's Coach Bio

Eddie Brescher is the University of Southern Mississippi men’s head golf coach, hired in May 2018 to rebuild the Golden Eagles into a postseason‑caliber program. He previously led both men’s and women’s golf at Millsaps College, where he guided the teams to program‑best national rankings and multiple team‑level accolades. At Southern Miss he has pushed the program toward Sun Belt‑level competitiveness and NCAA‑regional‑level aspirations through a strong, tournament‑heavy schedule and player‑development focus.

Women's Coach Bio

Colton Cowan is Southern Miss women’s head golf coach, announced as the program’s head coach in June 2024. Tasked with building the Golden Eagles’ women’s team in the Sun Belt Conference, he brings coaching‑experience and a recruiting‑focused approach to shape the program’s identity. Cowan emphasizes technical‑skill work, short‑game development, and a team‑driven culture aimed at steady improvement, conference‑level finishes, and long‑term NCAA‑postseason‑level performance.

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