He is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor's degree in music education. While at MSU he performed with the wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, and The Famous Maroon Band. Austin earned his master's degree in band conducting from Sam Houston State University.

 

Prior to coming to Co-Lin, Austin taught for 14 years in the Mississippi Public School System and served as the assistant band director/percussion instructor in the Brandon and Warren Central band programs. His percussion ensembles and concert bands have consistently been recognized for excellence on both state and national levels. In 2011, the Warren Central Indoor Percussion Ensemble won the Mississippi Indoor Association Percussion Scholastic A gold medal, and in 2013 the group had it's initial performance at the WGI Percussion World Championships.

 

In 2007 and 2008, Austin served as percussion coordinator and conductor for the Mississippi All-State Concert Band Percussion Ensemble. In 2009, he served as the percussion instructor on the staff of the International Champion Mississippi Lions All-State Band. Also in 2009, Austin received the A.E. McClain Award for Mississippi's Outstanding Young Band Director from the Mississippi Bandmasters Association. In 2022 Austin was awarded the outstanding faculty member of the Co-Lin Wesson campus.

He is a past president of the Capital District Band Directors' Association and currently serves as treasurer on the executive board of the Mississippi Indoor Association. He has served as a clinician for the Southwest Mississippi Band Directors' Association as well as the Scott County Honor Band Clinic. He has served on adjudication panels for the Mississippi Lions All-State Band, Mississippi Indoor Association, and The Pine Belt Marching Invitational.

Austin is a member of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association and the Percussive Arts Society. He also serves as an educator artist for Yamaha and Innovative Percussion.