Mizzou Announces Contract Extension for Caroline Westrup Gaeta
6/24/2026 8:22:00 AM | Women's Golf
COLUMBIA, Mo. – After leading the Mizzou women's golf team to unprecedented heights during her four years on campus, head coach Caroline Westrup Gaeta has agreed to a contract extension through the 2030-31 season, Director of Athletics Laird Veatch announced Wednesday.
One of the fastest-ascending programs in the nation, Westrup Gaeta has directed the Tigers from ranking 120th nationally prior to her arrival in 2022 to a school-record finish of 12th at the 2026 NCAA Championship.
"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," 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."
"I want to thank Laird and the university for continuing to believe in me and my vision for this women's golf program," Westrup said. "The bar will continue to be raised by pursuing high character ladies who want to put in the hard work and be part of something truly special.
"I want to be here, my family wants to be here, and we love the school and the wider community. I want to be a part of helping make this athletic department first class and elevate the university in any way that I can."
One of 20 coaches named to the WGCA National Coach of the Year Watchlist in 2026, Westrup Gaeta led the Tigers to their most successful season in school history. Mizzou earned its best finish in its history by placing 12th overall, topping the program's previous standard of 16th in 2005.
Overall, the Tigers won four tournaments during the 2025-26 campaign – the team's most since also collecting four in 1987-88 – while earning the school's second bid to the NCAA Championship Finals and first regional appearance in eight seasons. Additionally, Mizzou finished with a school-record stroke average of 287.9, breaking the previous record by more than five strokes.
Numerous Tigers have earned individual accolades under Westrup Gaeta's watch – highlighted by senior Addie Dobson qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open earlier this month. The team also featured the top two individual single-season stroke averages in school history during the 2025-26 campaign, while four of the program's top seven career averages have come under Westrup Gaeta's mentorship.
Success off the course has been just as important during Westrup Gaeta's time at Mizzou. A program-record six Tigers were honored on the 2025 WGCA All-American Scholar Team, ranking as the second most in the SEC and 10th most in the nation.
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