Western Illinois University's Director of Athletics, Paul A. Bubb, has announced the hiring of the new Director of Golf for the 2025-2026 school year.
Charlton Zimmerman, a native of Almont, Michigan joins the Leatherneck golf program after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Delaware's golf team.
"I am grateful for the pool of candidates we had for our Director of Golf position, and thankful that Charlton has agreed to lead our program. His experience as a collegiate golfer and coach was the combination we wanted for the position, and his passion for the game was clear." said Bubb. "I am confident that Charlton will provide the leadership we need at this time for both our men's and women's golf programs."
During his time at Delaware, Zimmerman assisted in both recruitment efforts and travel logistics, while also monitoring the academic progress of his student athletes. He also coordinated practice and skill development drills and formed many relationships with Alumni and Donors at the University of Delaware. Before his stop at Delaware, he was a graduate assistant coach at the University of South Alabama in which he directed physical conditioning programs to maximize athlete performance. The Jaguars men's golf team won two events and recorded seven top-three finishes, including a third-place showing, at the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Championship under the direction of Zimmerman.
Prior to his arrival at South Alabama, Zimmerman served as a non-PGA assistant teaching professional at the Harbor Point (Mich.) Golf Club. In his role with the club, he aided the head professional in practice sessions while creating youth camps in which he worked with individuals at a variety of age and skill levels. He has also served as the assistant general manager at the Bruce Hills (Mich.) Golf Club and as a personal trainer at LA Fitness.
During his time at Roosevelt University (Ill.), Zimmerman was a four time letter winner in golf. He was a three-time team captain and also served as the president of the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Zimmerman earned his bachelor's degree from Roosevelt in sustainability and environmental science. He also received a master's degree in public administration at Delaware as well as a master's in educational leadership and administration from South Alabama.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Director of Athletics Paul Bubb, Shelby Borchardt and the search committee for their thorough and thoughtful search process." said Zimmerman. "After visiting campus and engaging with the team, staff, and administration, it became abundantly clear that Western Illinois is a community that values hard work, dedication, and the well-being of its student-athletes—principles that resonate deeply with my own coaching philosophy. I am committed to the development of our golfers, both on and off the course, and to help them achieve excellence in all aspects of their collegiate experience. Together, we will build a program characterized by a high competitive spirit, academic success, and a strong sense of pride within the Macomb and Western Illinois communities."
"I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my colleagues at the University of Delaware, particularly Head Coach Patty and Brendon Post, and Jackie Mullens for their mentorship and support. The opportunities for growth and development I experienced there have been instrumental in shaping me as both a coach and an individual. I am truly honored and excited to join the Leatherneck family and look forward to the exciting journey ahead. Go Leathernecks!"