ARLINGTON, Texas -- UT Arlington athletics director Jim Baker announced the hiring of Stuart Deane as men's and women's golf coach. Deane had served as the assistant men's coach since February.

"We are extremely excited to have Stuart take the reins of our golf programs," Baker said. "We've been impressed with what we've seen from Stuart over these past few months on through the Sun Belt Championship.

"He knows our players, the game and the local landscape. His PGA experience and ability to teach will help take a successful men's program to the next level, and build a solid foundation for the start of the women's golf program in 2017-18."

Deane previously acted as a volunteer assistant for the Mavericks, working with several current and former UTA student-athletes. Deane is also a PGA teaching professional at Rolling Hills Country Club in Arlington, which is one of the facilities used by the golf program.

"This is definitely an honor being an Arlington resident with family from Arlington, including my wife who is a UTA graduate," Deane said. "It's a privilege to be part of this program, and I'm looking forward to making it a top-50, top-25 program in the future.

"I'm extremely excited about adding women's golf and building something that is extremely positive in that area. I'm so appreciative of Jim Baker and the search committee for choosing me among candidates from across the country. I'm looking forward to this challenge."

Deane, 43, was featured last summer on "The Road to the PGA Championship," a CBS Sports special featuring several competitors in the 96th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Deane was one of five PGA club professionals making their PGA Championship debuts at Valhalla.

Deane is currently ranked seventh among PGA Members in the United States, has been a member of the Web.com tour, has played in 10 PGA Tour events and won the Trump Million Dollar Invitational in his career. He arrived in the United States in 1996 after an impressive professional career in Australia and Asia.

Deane, his wife Elizabeth and two children, Sam and Lilly, reside in Arlington.