Virginia Women’s Golf head coach Kim Lewellen resigns to take over at Wake Forest

Virginia announced Friday (June 8) that Virginia Women’s Golf head coach Kim Lewellen would be departing the program and taking over the same position at Wake Forest.

On her decision, Lewellen told VirginiaSports.com:

“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. 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.”

Wake Forest’s coach Dianne Dailey recently retired after 30 seasons with the Demon Deacons. Coach Lewellen spent 11 years at the helm of the Cavaliers, winning back-to-back ACC titles in 2015 and 2016. This past season the Hoos finished 22nd in the NCAA Championships, and the Cavaliers finished the season in the top-25 in nine of Lewellen’s 11 years in Charlottesville. She was named ACC Coach of the year three times (2008, 2015, and 2016).

Two Cavalier golfers — Brittany Altomare (2013) and Lauren Coughlin (2016) — earned the ACC individual titles under Lewellen. Over her career at UVA, her players earned 12 All-America honors and 18 All-ACC honors.

Said Lewellen:

“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.”

Virginia is in the process of building a new indoor golf facility at Birdwood that would house both the men’s and women’s golf teams and provide space to practice during cold and bad weather. Additionally, the UVA golf coaches will move their offices there from their current location at U-Hall, and the players would have study spaces and locker rooms.

The Cavaliers will begin looking for a replacement immediately.