Gareth Lappin was announced as the new men's head golf coach in October, 2023. He completed his third season as head coach following the 2025-26 campaign.
The 2025-26 season was one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Lakers won seven tournaments this season, including the GLIAC Championships and the second Regional title in program history. In the final round of the GLIAC Championships, GVSU shot a program record 264 to defeat Davenport in the medal match play championship. Lappin was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year, along with being one of five finalists for the Dave Williams Division II National Coach of the Year. Six Lakers earned All-GLIAC First-Team honors, with Bryce Wheeler earning Golfer of the Year accolades. Additionally, five golfers were named PING All-Region selections.
For the second straight season, Lappin earned GolfPride Grips Midwest Region Coach of the Year after leading the Lakers to three wins and five additional top-five finishes. Lappin coached Drew Coble, Manuel Cue, and Bryce Wheeler to All-Region status, and those three along with Charlie Cooley were all named All-GLIAC. Coble earned his second straight GLIAC Golfer of the Year award. The Lakers advanced to the postseason, placing ninth at Regionals.
Once Lappin took over as the coach, GVSU claimed five tournament victories and three more top-five finishes. Lappin coached Drew Coble to First-Team All-American honors, and Coble was one of three Lakers to be named All-Region, along with Nick Krueger and Manuel Cue. Five GVSU golfers earned First-Team All-GLIAC honors, with Coble being named Golfer of the Year. The Lakers advanced to postseason play once again, placing fourth at NCAA Regionals to qualify for the National Championships. At Nationals, GVSU placed 10th, the second best finish in program history. Lappin was named the GolfPride Grips Midwest Region Coach of the Year.
Originally from Ireland, where he was a junior Irish National Champion, Lappin played collegiately at Michigan State from 2014-18, where he was a letterwinner and was named a BIG TEN player to watch. Following his playing career in East Lansing, Lappin became a graduate assistant coach for the Spartans, where he was responsible for setting practice plans, tailoring players golf swings, and aiding in the recruitment of players.
For the past five years, Lappin has been a golf pro both in Ireland and in Michigan. He was a teaching pro at Belvoir Park Golf Club in Belfast and at the StoneWater Country Club in Grand Rapids. He gave private lessons to multiple Division I golfers, among other players, ran junior development camps, guided junior golfers through the recruitment process, and conducted clinics and golf education sessions for golfers.
