EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips has announced the signing of head women's golf coach Emily Fletcher to a contract extension. Just the second head coach in NU women's golf history, Fletcher has been with the program since May of 2008.
"Emily Fletcher continues to lead Northwestern women's golf to unprecedented heights," Phillips said. "Her team has risen to the top of the Big Ten with the best season in program history in 2015, culminating in the program's second Big Ten title and the highest team finish at the NCAA Championships in NU history. More impressively, her student-athletes are consistently recognized for their academic achievements. This extension is another example of our commitment to attracting and retaining the services of outstanding leaders, like Emily. We are elated to have her continue to lead the program for many years to come."
"I am extremely grateful to President Schapiro and Dr. Phillips for their unwavering support of me and our golf program," Fletcher said. "Everyone associated with our team understands what a privilege it is to wear PURPLE. Northwestern is a special, special place and I feel blessed to be surrounded by the most amazing players, coaches and staff. I am excited for the coming years to continue our drive for a national championship."
In her seven years as head coach of the Wildcats, Fletcher has guided the NU squad to two Big Ten titles, including the program's first conference championship in 2013. Fletcher has led the `Cats to six-straight NCAA regional appearances and to three-consecutive trips to the NCAA Championships. The Wildcats placed among the top-15 teams in all three NCAA appearances, including a 10th-place team finish in 2015 for the highest team finish in program history.
Fletcher's squad had a strong performance at the 2015 Big Ten Championships, claiming its second conference title in three years. Playing in her first conference tournament, freshman Sarah Cho led the way for NU, winning the Big Ten women's golf individual championship after shooting a 3-under-par 213 (72-70-71) over three days for the first victory of her college career. Cho was the only player in the field to play all three Championship rounds at par-or-better and became just the second Big Ten Champion in Northwestern history.
Fletcher was named the 2015 Big Ten Coach of the Year for the third time since arriving in Evanston. She also received Big Ten Coach of the Year accolades in 2011, when the Wildcats finished third at the Big Ten Championships, and in 2013 after the program earned its first league title.
In total, seven Wildcats have received 13 All-Big Ten honors during Fletcher's tenure, including a program-best five All-Big Ten accolades in 2015.
Freshman Hannah Kim finished the conference tournament tied for ninth overall, while junior Suchaya Tangkamolprasert, who was named First Team All-Big Ten, also placed ninth in the individual standings. Kim burst onto the collegiate scene in her rookie campaign en route to becoming the first Big Ten Player of the Year in school history, and the third Big Ten Freshman of the Year from Northwestern.
Tangkamolprasert earned Women's Golf Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-America honors to become the first Wildcat in team history to earn a WGCA All-American nod. The Bangkok, Thailand, native finished her junior season with a 10th-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Women's Golf Championships for the highest individual finish in program history. Tangkamolprasert recorded six top-10 finishes during the 2014-15 season, including a second-place individual finish at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitation.
Sophomore Kacie Komoto also earned First Team All-Big Ten honors, while junior Kaitlin Park and senior Hana Lee were named to the All-Big Ten second team. Lee and Park are the third and fourth Wildcats in program history to earn three All-Big Ten honors in a career, and the first since Elizabeth Burden in 2003. Both were named first team All-Big Ten in 2013 and 2014.
In addition to the squad's success on the golf course, Fletcher has proved to be instrumental in the academic success of the women's golf team. Since 2008, 32 student-athletes have been named Academic All-Big Ten recipients. In 2013, Mei Liu received the Margaret Akerstrom Academic Achievement Award, which is given annually to the male and female graduating Northwestern student-athlete with the highest GPA.