University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics

5/11/25

Michael Carlisle is a self-described “late bloomer”.

Maybe that would explain the patience the USC Aiken head golf coach has exhibited over the past 36 years.

That patience has paid off and then some as Carlisle was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame in December of 2010.

In 13 seasons prior to 2003-04, Carlisle had guided the Pacers to three NCAA Division II national runners-up and four more fifth-place finishes. But in 2003-04, Carlisle’s cast of one senior, three sophomores, and a freshman, after not winning a tournament all season, “bloomed” at the right time capturing the program’s third-straight NCAA Southeast Region crown and winning the school’s first-ever NCAA Championship.  

For his efforts, Carlisle was named the Eaton GolfPride NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year.

So what does one do for an encore in 2004-05?  How about winning a second consecutive NCAA Title and dominating the rest of the regular season and postseason along the way.  In 2004-05, USC Aiken put together the most dominating season in the history of Division II men’s golf, winning 11 of 13 tournaments. And unlike in 2003-04, they did not enter the NCAA Championship as a dark horse.  The Pacers won the 2005 Peach Belt Conference Championship as well as their fourth-straight NCAA Southeast Region crown.  

The 2005-06 season brought a third-straight NCAA Championship, a fifth consecutive NCAA Southeast Region title, and a seventh Peach Belt Conference crown.

En route to winning 10 of 13 tournaments in 2005-06, Carlisle had successfully established the USC Aiken program as a dynasty. Only one team in the previous 44 years of Division II men’s golf had won three-straight NCAA titles.

If you ask the modest coach, he will boast only of the successful student-athletes that have been through the program.

However, it does not take much time spent in his office, looking around at the plethora of honors and accolades to determine Carlisle is among the most decorated in Division II golf.

A seven-time Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year, Carlisle has been named the NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Carlisle was again named the Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year for the 2012-13 season to add to his trophy case.

He has led the program to 12 PBC championships in 32 seasons in the league, including a three-peat in 1995-97 and back-to-back crowns in 2002-03, 2005-06 and 2013-14. Most recently, the Pacers claimed the 2018 title thanks in part to Johnson Holliday's individual title in addition to three Pacers in the top five. The squad won the 2017 Peach Belt Conference title behind all-tournament team performances from Michael Hocker and Holliday.

The five-time NCAA Southeast Region champions have made 32 trips in the last 33 years to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the National Championship Tournament 20 times.

His career winning percentage in 33 NCAA seasons at USCA is .706 with five seasons of better than .900 and eight years of .800 or higher.

During the last 33 seasons while playing a full complement of tournaments largely against top caliber Division I competition, Carlisle’s teams have captured 91 titles for an average of 2.8 per year. This includes an amazing stretch of 23 of 28 events from the end of 2003-04 through 2005-06.

USC Aiken has also become a fixture atop the GCAA Top-25 and the Golfstat top-10 polls.

An eight-time NCAA District or Region Coach of the Year (1995-99, 2002, 2004, 2006), Carlisle has coached 60 NCAA All-Americans, 10 All-Academic selections, two NCAA Players of the Year, one NCAA Freshman of the Year, one Elite 89 winner, nine PBC Players of the Year and 60 All-Conference selections.

In 2005, Carlisle had the distinct privilege to coach Team USA in the 30th Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Championship, leading the Americans to their 10th straight win.

Many of Carlisle’s pupils have had successful amateur and professional golfing careers. Ryan Dillon, Aaron Black, Scott Usher, Dane Burkhart and Jeff Goff have all played professionally on various mini-tours including the Gateway Tour, the Tarheel Tour and the Nationwide Tour.

Former USC Aiken standout Scott Brown is competing on the PGA TOUR and won the 2013 Puerto Rico Open, posting a 20-under 268 for a one-shot victory by carding a birdie on the 72^nd hole. Brown qualified for two major tournaments in 2013, the 2013 Open Championship and the 2013 PGA Championship, and has his PGA TOUR card through 2015.

An Aiken product born and raised, golf has always been a part of Carlisle’s life.

Out of high school, Carlisle walked on to play college golf at Clemson University.

Although never winning a conference or national title, the Tigers were a formidable force during his time there. Carlisle, a three-year letterwinner, graduated from Clemson in 1980.

After college, as most golfers do, Carlisle dreamed of playing on the PGA Tour. After competing as an amateur, Carlisle played on mini-tours for nearly five years.

Winning a few tournaments highlighted his professional career.

When Carlisle came to USC Aiken to take over for Paul Weiler as head golf coach, he regained his amateur status. He has won the Carolinas Amateur and the South Carolina Mid-Amateur Championships. Twice, Carlisle has advanced to the United States Amateur Championship.

Carlisle stays active in the Aiken community including his work with the Junior Golf Association. Carlisle was honored in June of 2009 with the Thomas Hitchcock and William C. Whitney Award at the Players Dinner for the 34th Palmetto Amateur Tournament.

Carlisle was the first recipient of the award. The award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the game of golf in the Aiken area.

Carlisle has two sons, David and Daniel, and two grandchildren, Corinne and Hampton.