Since joining the NSU athletic staff in the summer of 1998, head golf coach Scott Varner has made a tremendous impact on the RiverHawks golf programs. Varner, the Director of Golf, also serves as the NSU Athletics Speed, Strength, and Conditioning Coordinator.
The 2025-26 season will be Varner’s 28th at the helm of the NSU programs. He has won six conference coach of the year honors (four Lone Star Conference, two MIAA) and four region coach of the year accolades (two West, one South Central, one Central).
The Stillwater native returned to his home state after a brief two-year stint at the University of Louisiana Monroe, an NCAA Division I institution.
Prior to that, Varner led the East Central University golf teams from a fledgling program to a national contender in just a couple of years.
His ECU squads consistently were ranked among the nations best at the NAIA level. Varner was also the defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator on the ECU football team that won the NAIA National Championship in 1993, and his 1995 golf team was a mere three holes from winning the national title. Varner’s programs have always enjoyed tremendous success at the national level.
The NSU women have made 22 appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament, making eight finals appearances. The men have earned 20 NCAA trips. Varner has led both the men and women to ranked appearances, in a streak that lasted two decades of consecutive seasons.
During his career, Varner has coached 33 All-Americans and 36 Academic All-Americans, six of which were first team choices. An avid advocate of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Varner is the sponsor of the NSU FCA chapter. The legendary Tom Osborn honored Varner in 1995 when he was selected the Southeast Oklahoma FCA Coach of the Year. In 2004, he was named the Oklahoma FCA Coach of the Year and was honored by FCA founder Don McClanen and Coach/Senator Dr. Tom Osborn. He also holds membership in the Golf Coaches Association of America, is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (C.S.C.S.) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the Oklahoma Coaches Association.
A two-time high school golf team champion, an All-State selection in 1979 at Stillwater High School and the State Junior Champions Invitational champion in 1980, Varner was also an All-District selection in football. He lettered in golf at the University of North Texas where he helped the Mean Green to the NCAA Championship Tournament and finished 20th in the nation.
He completed his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Oklahoma State University in 1986 with a conversion endorsement in biology, anatomy and physiology. He earned a master’s degree in exercise science from East Central University in 1990.
Varner and his wife Monica Kay have been married for 30 years and have two boys, Michael and Brian. He and his family are members of 1st United Methodist Church in Claremore.
