GREENVILLE, S.C. — Former Georgia women’s golf coach Kelley Hester was named head coach at Furman, just weeks after not having her contract renewed by UGA.
Hester, who will begin her duties as head coach on July 1, comes to Furman after spending the last five seasons with the Bulldogs. She led Georgia to five consecutive NCAA Regional appearances and 10th and 15th-place finishes at the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Championships, respectively. In 2009, Hester was named LPGA National Coach of the Year.
“Kelley Hester is a proven head coach of the highest caliber,” said Furman athletic director Gary Clark. “Her teams have finished ranked in the top 20 in each of the last seven seasons. More importantly, her approach to the game and preparation for her team are a great fit for Furman University. Kelley is the right person at the right time to lead our women’s golf program back to national prominence.”
Along with her team’s consistent success, Hester recruited, coached and developed Marta Silva Zamora, who was named consensus National Player of the Year in 2011.
“The chance to take over the reins at Furman is a tremendous opportunity for which I am grateful,” Hester said. “Not only is Furman one of the top liberal arts universities in the nation, it is steeped in women’s college golf history and tradition. Few programs can claim the success in Furman’s past. I look forward to the challenge of helping Furman return to the top of both the Southern Conference and NCAA Division I golf.”
