Marc Austin appointed Lead Coach of National Triathlon Centre

Triathlon Scotland are delighted to announce the appointment of Marc Austin as the Lead Performance Coach of the National Triathlon Centre, located at the University of Stirling.

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 Triathlon Scotland, the University of Stirling, and British Triathlon. 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.”

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 12th 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 athletes on the programme include Sophia Green, Cameron Main, Grant Sheldon, and David McNamee.

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.