Charlton Zimmerman was named Director of Golf at Western Illinois University in June 2025. A native of Almont, Michigan Charlton brings a strong background as both a collegiate golfer and coach, with extensive experience at the Division I level and throughout the golf industry.
Prior to joining Western Illinois athletics, Charlton spent two seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at University of Delaware. In that role, he assisted with recruiting, travel logistics, academic monitoring, and coordinated practice and player development sessions. He also played a key role in alumni and donor relations for the Blue Hens golf program. During his tenure, Delaware captured the 2024 CAA Women’s Golf Championship and earned a berth in the 2024 NCAA Regional at Wake Forest. Before Delaware, Charlton served as a graduate assistant and assistant coach at University of South Alabama, where he oversaw the golf program’s strength and conditioning initiatives. During his time with the Jaguars, the team won three tournaments and recorded seven top-three finishes, highlighted by a third-place finish at the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Championship. Charlton also played a significant role in recruiting and developing Hugo Thyr, who won back-to-back Sun Belt Stroke Play Championships and qualified for the 2023 NCAA Regional at Auburn.
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Zimmerman has worked throughout the golf industry, including roles as assistant teaching professional at Harbor Point Golf Club, assistant manager and general manager at Bruce Hills Golf Club, and Master Club Fitter at Golfsmith in Sterling Heights, MI. He has also been actively involved with First Tee programs in Michigan, Delaware, and Illinois.
As a student-athlete at Roosevelt University, Zimmerman was a four-year letter winner in golf, a three-time team captain, and served as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sustainability and environmental science before completing master’s degrees in public administration from Delaware and educational leadership and administration from South Alabama. Charlton and his wife, Zoey, were married in August 2025 and reside in Monmouth, IL.
