Southwestern's Doug North, men's and women's golf coach, has been named the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) 2026 Division II Men's Golf Coach of the Year.

North led the Spartans' men's team to five wins, six top-three finishes, an average score of 301, and an NJCAA DII ranking of 20. The team's most impressive finish came at the NIACC Fall Invitational in Mason City in September, where they shot 16 under par.

He has coached the Spartans since June 2015, placing strong emphasis on his players being dedicated students, as well as athletes. A total of 32 golfers have received second-team academic all-conference honors, while an impressive 89 golfers have been recognized with first-team academic all-conference honors. Under North's guidance, Southwestern has produced all-conference players in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. Additionally, Spartan players have qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association's Championship in 2018, 2019, 2023, 2025, and 2026. Southwestern Community College freshman Freddie Muggeridge was named to the 2025 NJCAA Division II PING All-Region North Team, as announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). Muggeridge became the first Spartan to receive this honor since Reinhardt Saunderson was recognized in 2019.

North holds a Master of Science in athletic administration from Concordia University; a Bachelor of Science in business management from Northwest Missouri State University, and an Associate of Arts degree from Southwestern Community College. He resides in Creston with his wife, Hannah, and their three children: Sawyer, Corbin, and Willow.