HOUSTON – Gustavo Morantes has joined the University of Houston Men’s Golf program as its assistant coach, Director of Golf Jonathan Dismukeannounced Friday.
Morantes – whose name is pronounced Goose-Tah-Vo More-Ahn-Tess – joined the Cougars after working for the last seven seasons at New Mexico. Following an award-winning playing career, he joined Head Coach Glen Millican’s staff as assistant coach in the fall of 2019.
As an assistant coach with his alma mater, Morantes helped lead the Lobos to two NCAA Regional appearances (2022, 2021), four team tournament titles, four individual tournament championships and the 2021 Mountain West Conference crown.
He also coached numerous All-Conference performers while working heavily in fundraising activities for the program and helping lead the team to grade-point average records every season.
“Gustavo was a terrific player at New Mexico, and I remember competing against him several years ago,” Dismuke said. “As he transitioned into coaching, Gustavo has become an outstanding recruiter and is part of Glenn Millican’s coaching tree, which is second to none. He is somebody that we identified early as a good fit for our program, and I am excited to have him come aboard.”
“There is so much potential for this program to have success. The facilities are awesome, and the move into the Big 12 will help with recruiting. Being in Texas makes things a lot easier. Coach Dismuke is a competitive guy and an intense guy, in a good way. He wants to succeed and has been doing that for a long time,” Morantes said. “As an alum and letterman, I will always be grateful for the opportunities Coach Millican and New Mexico gave me as I move into the next chapter of my career at Houston.”
Before entering the coaching ranks, Morantes was an award-winning student-athlete at New Mexico from 2014 to 2018. He competed on three teams, which captured regular-season tournament championships and earned medalist honors at the 2016 National Invitational in Tucson, Ariz.
Morantes was a member of the 2016 All-Mountain West Conference Team and competed at the 2017 NCAA Championships at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill.
After graduating from New Mexico in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies, he competed as a professional for one season, qualifying for the 2019 Evans Scholars Invitational and the 2018 Ellie Mae Classic on the Korn Ferry Tour.
In addition to his collegiate career, Morantes boasts an impressive amateur playing career. He was a member of the Venezuelan National Amateur Team and captured the Venezuelan Amateur Championship crowns in 2012 and again in 2014 and led the Venezuela to the 2013 Junior World Championship title.