Mizzou women's golf coach Caroline Westrup Gaeta receives contract extension

Mizzou women’s golf coach Caroline Westrup Gaeta received a contract extension through the 2030-31 season, per a release.

Westrup Gaeta led the Tigers to a historic 12th-place finish at the NCAA Championships this past season, a drastic improvement from when she arrived as the team’s head coach in 2022.

“I want to be here, my family wants to be here, and we love the school and the wider community,” Westrup Gaeta said in the release. “I want to be a part of helping make this athletic department first class and elevate the university in any way that I can.”

Under her guidance in 2025, the Tigers ended the season as the 30th-best team in the NCAA standings on top of their 12th-place finish. Before this season, the Tigers’ best finish ever in the national championship was 16th. This was their first NCAA regional appearance in eight seasons as well.

“This year’s record-setting performance at the NCAA Championship is a reflection of the standard Caroline has established as she’s steadily built our women’s golf program,” Mizzou athletic director Laird Veatch said. “We are proud of everything she and our student-athletes have achieved, and we’re incredibly excited about the future of Mizzou women’s golf under her leadership.”

Westrup Gatea led the Tigers to four tournament victories in 2025-26, which was the most since they also won four in the 1987 season. MU also finished the season with a team stroke average of 287.9, breaking the school record of 293.1 set in 2023.

“I want to thank Laird and the university for continuing to believe in me and my vision for the women’s golf program,” Westrup said. “The bar will continue to be raised by purusing high character ladies who want to put in the hard work and be part of something truly special.”