Marc Austin appointed Lead Coach of National Triathlon Centre

Austin – who replaces Crawford Whyte in the top role – knows the Centre well, having trained there as an athlete himself and holding the position of Support and Next Generation Coach since 2023. 

The Centre has been functioning since 2000 and was relaunched in March 2023 as a partnership between Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, British Triathlon and Triathlon Scotland. The approach sees the University’s scholarship programme integrate with the governing bodies’ performance pathways with a view to developing the next generation of triathletes. 

Reflecting on his new appointment, Austin – who won bronze at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 – said: “I am proud to be appointed Lead Performance Coach of the National Triathlon Centre here at the University of Stirling. Having been an athlete on the University’s high-performance programme between 2011 and 2015, I understand the opportunities and the challenges of training and competing at the highest level while balancing studies.

“I am fortunate to be working with an incredibly talented group of athletes and look forward to supporting their development and helping them to compete at the highest level of their sport.”  

Cathy Gallagher, Executive Director of Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “Since the relaunch in 2023, the National Triathlon Centre is going from strength to strength and is nurturing the next generation of top-class triathletes from Scotland and across the UK. In partnership with Triathlon Scotland and British Triathlon, we are delighted to appoint Marc to lead our high-performance programme at Stirling, Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence. 

“Marc has competed and medalled on the international stage, and knows the programme well, having spent four years as a sports scholar at the University. I know the Centre and the athletes will thrive under his leadership and we are excited to see what the group can achieve in the months and years to come.” 

Fiona Lothian, Head of Performance Pathways at Triathlon Scotland, said: “After a rigorous application process, we are delighted that Marc has stepped up into the position of Lead Performance Coach.

“As a World Class triathlete, competing in the World Triathlon Series and two Commonwealth Games, Marc has firsthand insight into what it takes to become a successful athlete. His previous position of Support and Next Generation Coach saw him working with the current upcoming talent at the Centre, including Isla Hedley who finished 12^th at World Juniors in 2024. In his new role he will continue to build on this work, and I look forward to him taking the athletes to the next stage in their careers.”

The Centre is aligned to the British Triathlon Centre model, creating a pathway that athletes can develop to senior world-class level. In addition to Austin, past scholars on the programme include Sophia Green, Cameron Main, Grant Sheldon, David McNamee and George Goodwin.  

Current athletes on the programme include Tom Williamson – who finished top five in the world in last year’s World Para-Triathlon Championships (PTS5 category); Millie Breese, who secured a top 20 spot in last season’s World Championships and a top five place in the European Championships; and Isla Hedley, who recently finished 12th at the World Juniors. Other promising athletes include Struan Bennett, Dorian Horsten and Maisie Aubrey.  

At Stirling, triathletes have access to world-class facilities, including a 50-metre pool, unrivalled running and biking terrain in the nearby hills and Trossachs National Park, and state-of-the-art strength and conditioning suites.  

In addition to coaching and facilities, Stirling’s International Sports Scholarship Programme – one of the largest high-performance programmes in the UK – offers athletes funding support, academic flexibility, equipment and kit. It has supported hundreds of athletes since its inception in 1981 – with many competing on the world stage, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. 

Core sports include tennis, swimming, golf, football, triathlon, rugby and curling, while individual scholarships include athletics, fencing, BMX racing, and orienteering.  

Read more about sports scholarships at the University of Stirling.