Lewellen Resigns to Take Head Coaching Job at Wake Forest
June 8, 2018
Charlottesville, Va. – Virginia head women’s golf coach Kim Lewellen announced her resignation today (June 8) to accept the head coaching position at Wake Forest. Lewellen just completed her 11th season at UVA, leading the Cavaliers to a 22nd-place finish at the NCAA Championships. It marked the ninth time during her tenure at UVA that the Cavaliers advanced to the national championships.
At Wake Forest, Lewellen replaces Dianne Dailey who retired this spring after 30 years of leading the Demon Deacons women’s golf program. During Dailey’s three decades at Wake Forest, her teams won 30 team titles, 39 individual titles, and captured four ACC Championships and qualified for 15 NCAA Championships. She coached 28 All-Americans, 39 All-ACC selections, five ACC Players of the Year, four ACC Freshmen of the Year and 2018 NCAA individual champion Jennifer Kupcho.
“Coming to Virginia and being part of such a young program, and to watch it flourish and become a continuous competitive team in the ACC and at the NCAA Championships, has been some of the proudest and most memorable moments of my life,” Lewellen said. “This move to Wake Forest is based on my desire to be closer to my family in North Carolina. Both my mother and in-laws reside there. Myself and my husband, John, have had aspirations to be there to help and assist them as they grow in their retirement years.
“This was a very difficult decision. I truly love Virginia, our student-athletes and staff and everything the University stands for. When I spoke to Carla Williams (UVA athletics director), she told me that if I was making this decision to look out for the best interests of my family, then to be confident it is the right one. I think that shows the outstanding leadership Virginia is fortunate to have. This is a very special community and I am very proud to have been a part of it.”
At Virginia, Lewellen’s teams earned back-to-back ACC Championships in 2015 and 2016. She received ACC Coach of the Year honors in 2008, 2015 and 2016. Virginia’s 2011 and 2012 teams placed fourth at the NCAA Championships. UVA’s 2016 team reached the match play portion of the NCAA Championships, finishing fifth in the medal play portion of the event.
A total of nine of her 11 UVA teams finished the season ranked in the top-25 of the final Golfstat rankings. Lewellen’s players received All-America honors 12 times during her tenure and All-ACC accolades on 18 occasions. Brittany Altomare won the ACC individual title in 2013 and Lauren Coughlin became the second Cavalier to claim that championship in 2016.
Lewellen was recognized by the LPGA as its East Region college coach of the year in 2012 after also receiving the award in 2011 and 2010. In 2011 she was also named the National College Coach of the Year by the LPGA.
A 1993 North Carolina graduate, in 2003, she was named to Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary Women’s Golf Team.
Virginia will begin a national search immediately for Lewellen’s replacement.