NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After leading Vanderbilt to nine consecutive berths in the NCAA Championships, Thomas F. Roush, M.D. and Family Men’s Golf Head Coach Scott Limbaugh will have the opportunity to continue building on that success with the announcement Thursday that his contract has been extended.
The Commodores are coming off a season in which they won six tournaments and were the top overall seed in the NCAA Championships. Six members of the Vandy lineup earned PING All-Southeast Region honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America, with four of those individuals—Gordon Sargent, William Moll, Matthew Riedel and Cole Sherwood—going on to be named All-Americans by the organization.
“I’m thrilled that we can continue to invest in Scott Limbaugh as he has invested in us,” said Candice Storey Lee, vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director. “Since his arrival at Vanderbilt, he’s been committed to building one of the nation’s preeminent golf programs and the results speak for themselves. Individually and collectively, our student-athletes continue setting new standards of excellence. As we continue this new chapter for Vanderbilt Athletics, including the ongoing Vandy United initiative to enhance team facilities at Vanderbilt Legends Club, Scott’s success mentoring champions and leaders is a blueprint for what is possible.”
Since his appointment as head coach of the program prior to the start of the 2012-13 season, Limbaugh has guided the Dores to the NCAA Championships nine straight years (not including the 2020 event that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and has advanced Vanderbilt to match play on six occasions highlighted by three appearances in the semifinals and Sargent’s individual national championship in 2022. Under his guidance, the Commodores have placed in the top three at an NCAA Regional seven consecutive seasons and have won the SEC Championship three times.
“I am thrilled to continue my journey here at Vanderbilt as our aim remains steadfast on bringing home national championships,” said Limbaugh. “With the unwavering support and alignment from athletic director Candice Lee and Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, we remain committed to our vision for the program’s future. Together, we dare to grow, push boundaries, and create a legacy that will inspire generations to come.”
The 2017 Dave Williams National Coach of the Year, Limbaugh has been a finalist for the honor each of the last two years. He’s been selected the Southeast Region Coach of the Year by the Golf Coaches Association of America both in 2020 and ’22, and has been chosen the SEC Coach of the Year on four occasions over the last seven seasons.
His efforts have helped 12 different Commodores earn All-America recognition 29 times since 2015, with 13 individuals making the all-region team 34 times over that stretch. Limbaugh has coached five SEC Players of the Year and nine student-athletes who have been named to the All-SEC Freshman Team. Dating back to his time at Alabama, where he was an assistant for five seasons prior to coming to Vanderbilt, he has helped 11 student-athletes earn first-team All-America honors including 2012 Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson Award winner Justin Thomas.
Three Dores have gone on to compete internationally in the Walker Cup under Limbaugh’s direction, and in addition to serving as head coach for the United State in the 2019 Arnold Palmer Cup he’s helped eight individuals from the program compete in the event.
His leadership has also played a pivotal role in the continued development of the Commodores’ facilities at their home course, the Vanderbilt Legends Club. That includes upgrades currently taking place as part of the school’s Vandy United campaign, highlighted by a renovation and expansion of the team clubhouse facilities, enhancements and expansions to the driving range, short game facility and putting greens, modified chipping areas and a new strokes gained area to continue to help student-athletes train more efficiently in order to reach their full potential.
Limbaugh is a 2003 graduate of Huntingdon (Ala.), where he competed two seasons for the Hawks—helping the program reach the national tournament—prior to becoming a member of the coaching staff. After serving as an assistant following the conclusion of his playing career, he was elevated to head coach in 2004 and remained in that capacity for three seasons before joining the staff at Alabama.
Limbaugh and his wife Kate have two daughters, Malley and Annie, and one son, Thomas.
