Michael Wilson, a key member of California’s 2004 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship team, was named the Alex and Marie Shipman Director of Men’s Golf on July 22, 2024.
A Northern California native and 2007 Cal alumnus, Wilson returned to Berkeley most recently following two successful seasons at the helm of Colorado State’s men’s golf program (2022-24), having led the Rams to back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances and a 2023 NCAA Championship berth. He served as the head coach at Long Beach State for the five previous seasons (2017-22) and was named the 2021 Big West Coach of the Year after guiding the Beach to an NCAA Regional appearance and its first conference title in 52 years.
Wilson's Cal tenure started with a bang in 2024-25 as he led the Golden Bears to an NCAA Championship appearance – their second straight and 17th all-time – in his first season at the helm. Cal finished 17th overall at the 2025 NCAA Championship in Carlsbad and collected five top-five finishes and eight top-10 efforts on the way to a 105-96-3 record. Wilson blended leadership from veterans Wenliang Xie, Charlie Berridge, Tony Chen and Daniel Heo along with a dynamic freshman year from Ziqin Zhou – who took 22nd individually at NCAAs, the best finish by a Cal freshman at the tournament since Collin Morikawa in 2016 – to make a late-spring run. The Bears took seventh at the Western Intercollegiate, sixth at the ACC Championship and advanced through the NCAA Reno Regional with a fifth-place effort.
Colorado State flourished in Wilson’s two years with the program. The Rams reached their first NCAA Championship in 12 years in 2023 after placing fifth at the NCAA Auburn Regional, and won their first three tournaments of the season along with nine total top-five finishes. Under Wilson’s guidance, Christoph Bleier became the first Ram to win individual medalist at an NCAA Regional, and he was one of three CSU golfers to earn All-Mountain West accolades during the 2022-23 campaign. In 2023-24, Wilson’s Rams recorded another five top-five finishes, including a win at Air Force’s Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational and a third-place effort at the Mountain West Championship. CSU reached the NCAA postseason again, ultimately placing 10th at the NCAA West Lafayette Regional.
Wilson’s Long Beach State program totaled 14 All-Big West Team accolades, including nine first-team selections, in four years of awards – the 2020 award slate was canceled due to COVID-19 – along with the 2021 Big West Player of the Year, Hunter Epson, and three Big West Freshmen of the Year. His 2021 Big West Championship squad registered a pair of runner-up efforts, four top-five finishes and six top-10 showings in nine stroke-play tournaments.
Wilson’s collegiate coaching career started at Washington, where he was an assistant coach for three seasons (2014-17). He helped the Huskies improve their finish at the Pac-12 Championship in each of his three seasons, including a tie for third place in 2016-17 as Wilson managed the team while head coach Alan Murray was on paternity leave. The Huskies reached an NCAA Regional in all three seasons and placed 15th at the 2015 NCAA Championship.
Wilson entered the coaching ranks following three years of playing on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour, later known as PGA Tour Canada. He worked as an assistant golf professional and the lead golf instructor at Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel prior to arriving at Washington.
Wilson’s collegiate playing career was dotted with accolades, including being named the 2003 Pac-10 Conference Co-Freshman of the Year. He also earned a spot on the All-Pac-10 second team that season after posting a 71.9 scoring average, which was the best mark by a freshman in program history at the time. A sophomore on Cal’s 2004 NCAA title squad, Wilson’s third- and fourth-round scores of 69 and 71, respectively, were crucial components in the team’s championship run.
Wilson won three career individual tournament titles as a Golden Bear – then tied for the most in program history – was twice recognized as an All-America Scholar by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and was a three-time Pac-10 All-Academic Team honoree. He graduated with a degree in mass communications in 2007.
Wilson and his wife, Courtney, have one son, Ben.
THE MICHAEL WILSON FILE
Personal
Hometown: Pacific Grove, California
Birthday: February 8, 1984
Family: Wife: Courtney; Son: Ben
Alma Mater: California, 2007 (mass communications)
Social Media: X/Twitter:
@CoachWilsonCal | Instagram:
@mwilsongolf
Coaching Experience
2014-17: Washington (Assistant Coach)
2017-22: Long Beach State (Head Coach)
2022-24: Colorado State (Head Coach)
2024-Present: California (Head Coach)
Playing Experience:
2002-06: California
2007-10: Canadian Professional Golf Tour
LAST UPDATED: June 20, 2025
