After retiring, Austin started his coaching career at , taking the Reserves team to a premiership in 1988. He then succeeded David Parkin (who had been his last coach at Carlton) as senior coach at  in 1989 and lifted the struggling Lions to sixth spot.
After retiring, Austin started his coaching career at , taking the Reserves team to a top-flight championship in 1988. He then succeeded David Parkin (who had been his previous coach at Carlton) as senior coach at  in 1989 and improved the Lions' performance from struggling to sixth place.