University of West Alabama

Devan Acosta enters her fourth year at the helm of the Panther men's and women's golf programs in 2025-2026.

In her first season with the Panthers, she helped guide all-HCAC honoree Dawson Long to medalist honors as part of the 2023 HCAC Men's Golf Championship as well as the school's first-ever student-athlete to be ranked among the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He was also named the Hanover Athlete of the Year. During her first season, the program saw several records fall including the men's individual 54-hole.

On the women's side, Acosta propelled the Panthers to a top-tier finish in the league, claiming fourth in the 10-team field with one athlete claiming all-HCAC accolades. 

In 2024, she guided the men's program to a sixth-place finish in the HCAC while the women finished fifth. She also coached All-Conference honoree Mallory Mortl. 

The 2025 campaign saw the Hanover men's program capture ninth overall in the HCAC while the women's team claimed fifth. Addie Livorno and Jacob Knapp both recorded top 10 finishes, landing seventh overall to lead their respective teams. Devan also saw three Panthers earn WGCA Scholar All-American honors (Taylor Caldwell, Madelyn Arrenholz, and Addie Livorno). 

Devan, formally Devan Smith '17, was a standout for the Hanover women's golf team helping guide the program to four straight Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships as well as four NCAA Tournament berths from 2013 to 2016.
 
" It's incredible having the opportunity to come back to the program that I loved so much as a player," praised Acosta. "Now I get to experience what it's like to be on the other side, to be the one mentoring the student athletes. I hope I'll be able to be the sort of coach I was fortunate enough to play for. I'm excited to get to know the team and get to work on bringing success back to the program."
 
"The Hanover College community and especially the golf student athletes are fortunate to have Acosta return to her alma mater, " said Vice President for Athletics, Lynn Hall.  "Devan understands what it takes to be a successful student athlete at Hanover College, and I look forward to seeing her put her mark on the golf programs." 
 
Prior to rejoining the Hanover community, Devan worked in inpatient psychiatric care, most recently at Wellstone Regional Hospital. 
 
She graduated from Hanover in 2017 with a degree in psychology.