UIC to Add Women's Golf in 2011-12

CHICAGO – The University of Illinois at Chicago will introduce women’s golf as a varsity sport that will begin competition in 2011-12, Director of Athletics Jim Schmidt announced today.

Schmidt also named veteran golf professional Carol Rhoades head women’s golf coach. Rhoades is an award-winning member of the PGA who brings 15 years of experience teaching and coaching the game of golf.

“UIC is committed to providing opportunities for women, and adding women’s golf to our athletic department is a major step in that commitment,” said Schmidt. “I commend our chancellor, Dr. Paula Allen-Meares, for her dedication to increasing opportunities for female student-athletes to compete for the Flames.  "We are fortunate that the NCAA and the Horizon League, in addition to private giving, will pay for the start-up of this initiative,” said Schmidt.

“When we joined the Horizon League, we made a pledge to compete at a high level while sponsoring programs aligned with league competition,” Schmidt said. “Adding women’s golf also gives UIC more opportunity to compete for Horizon League titles.”

“I am very happy to be here at UIC,” said Rhoades. “I am happy to be involved in an excellent future for women’s golf at UIC, and I am excited to be in the Horizon League, where women’s golf is growing.

“I am excited about the caliber of student at UIC, and the program’s mission is to expand the educational experience of students with golf,” Rhoades said. “We want to provide opportunities for local and worldwide students to participate in competitive golf while enhancing their education and careers at UIC.”   Rhoades is currently the director of instruction and head golf professional at Stony Creek Golf Course in Oak Lawn, Ill. She has also served as a golf professional at various clubs around the country, including Olympia Fields Country Club.

Among the many honors to Rhoades’ credit are the 2010 Illinois PGA Horton Smith Award, the 2008 Illinois PGA President’s Plaque and the 2002 Midwest LPGA Golf Professional of the Year Award. In addition to her lengthy experience as a golf professional, Rhoades is active in the game as a member of numerous boards and committees, including the Illinois PGA Board of Directors and the PGA National President’s Council.

Rhoades has collegiate coaching experience, serving as the head women’s golf coach at the College of William & Mary from 1991-92. “We are extremely thrilled to have Carol Rhoades as our head women’s golf coach,” said Schmidt. “Her experience as a teacher of the game and her understanding of the responsibilities and challenges that face a Division I golf team make Carol the right fit to lead the UIC women’s golf program.     “UIC boasts one of the largest and most successful athletic departments in the league,” said Schmidt. “We expect that success to continue in the future with our women’s golf program joining the UIC family.”     

Courtesy of UIC sports information