James Dewling was named the Men's Golf Assistant Coach in the summer of 2026.
Dewling enters the role with more than a decade of coaching experience, including 11 seasons at Brighton High School and two seasons as an assistant coach at Detroit Catholic Central, Dewling has focused heavily on player development and guiding student-athletes through competitive seasons. His teams have benefited from a process-driven mindset that emphasizes course management, mental composure and consistency.
His peers have recognized Dewling's coaching success. In 2023, he was named Division 1 Coach of the Year by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association (MIGCA). That recognition was further reinforced when he was named the MIGCA Coach of the Year in 2026.
A former member of the Michigan State University men's golf team, Dewling competed in the Big Ten Conference before transitioning into coaching. As a Spartan, he competed for four years, including participating in the Big Ten Championship and earning a varsity letter in his first season with the program. During his collegiate career, he earned Academic All-Big Ten honors each year and was recognized as a Michigan State University High Honor Student-Athlete annually.
A Brighton High School graduate and Michigan native, Dewling also enjoyed a successful junior golf career. He was named to the MIGCA Super Team, was a finalist for Mr. Golf, and won the Randy Wise Open AJGA tournament.
Beyond the course, Dewling has built a distinguished career as an associate broker and Realtor in southeast Michigan, where he was named Realtor of the Year by the Michigan Association of Realtors in 2023. That same drive, discipline, and commitment to service carry directly into his work developing and building golf programs. Dewling brings both experience and a player-first vision to Oakland, setting the tone for a competitive program focused on continuous improvement.
