National champion and six-time Big Ten Coach of the Year Emily Fletcher finished her 17th season at Northwestern by leading the women's golf program to its first national title. During her decorated tenure in Evanston, Fletcher has built the Wildcats into a consistent national power.
Under Fletcher's watch, Northwestern has qualified for 16 consecutive NCAA Championships (2010-25), earned 10 NCAA Championship Final berths (2013-19, 2023-25), captured three Big Ten Conference crowns (2013, 2015, 2016), and led the program to its first national championship (2025). She piloted Northwestern to four consecutive Top-10 results at the NCAA Championship Finals (2015-18) and has seen her team finish in the top 15 in nine of its 10 NCAA Championship Final appearances.
Fletcher and assistant coach Beth Miller, who have worked side by side for all 17 seasons, capped a storybook year in 2024-25 by securing the program's first national championship by securing a thrilling 3-2 win over No. 1 Stanford on May 21, 2025, in the NCAA National Championship Match at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. All five of Stanford's players were ranked in the top 20 in the country. Undefeated in stroke play the entire season, the Cardinal also dominated the NCAA Championship Finals, finishing 21 shots ahead of the field after 72 holes. That didn't phase five Wildcats – three from California, one from Taiwan, and a senior from Seattle, Lauryn Nguyen, that everyone was playing for – who banded together to bring home a championship.
In match play – inclusive of the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final – all five members of the team won at least one match, with every member contributing to the championship. In the semifinals, it was Ashley Yun, Elise Lee & Dianna Lee who won their matches. The quarterfinals saw Elise Lee, Lauryn Nguyen and Hsin Tai Lin secure victories.
The Wildcats, who were ranked No. 11 nationally entering the tournament, defeated No. 6 Arkansas and No. 2 Oregon to reach the championship round. The title marks the 12th team national championship in Northwestern history.
Fletcher enjoyed another milestone season guiding the 'Cats in 2016-17, a campaign that saw Northwestern win the stroke play portion of the NCAA Championship Finals at Rich Harvest Farms in suburban Sugar Grove, Ill. All five members of the Wildcat lineup placed inside the top 24 on the individual leaderboard en route to finishing nine strokes clear of No. 2 Stanford. Fletcher's crew went on to pick up a pair of wins in match play, highlighted by a thrilling come-from-behind win over No. 6 Southern California, before ultimately falling to top-ranked Arizona State in the national championship match.
Fletcher has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year six times (2024, 2023, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2011) and was recognized as Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Central Region Coach of the Year in 2016, 2017, 2023 and 2025, as well as the WGCA National Coach of the Year in 2025.
During her decorated tenue, Fletcher's Wildcats have earned:
21 All-America honors (WGCA/Golfweek)
50 All-Big Ten awards
Seven Big Ten Freshman of the Year awards
Four Big Ten Player of the Year awards
Two Mary Fossum Awards
43 WGCA All-American Scholar nods
99 Academic All-Big Ten honors
Her tenure has produced the top-16 career scoring averages in the Wildcats' record book, as well as the top-25 single-season scoring marks in program history.
Fletcher, who is the second head coach of the Northwestern women's golf team, brought more than 20 years of experience as a teacher and coach to Evanston, including spending nine years mentoring on the LPGA Tour. She served as the primary swing instructor for the LPGA's Jenny Lidback, helping her become the 1995 DuMaurier Classic champion, one of the LPGA's four majors. Lidback also captured 20 top-10 finishes under Fletcher's tutelage.
"I had known Emily for over 15 years and had always thought she would make a great college coach," Northwestern Director of Golf Pat Goss said of Fletcher's hiring. "I am especially impressed with her background and relationships in professional golf. Our goal is to attract women who want to pursue golf with the goal of playing professionally. Emily has a strong belief in what Northwestern University and our golf programs stand for.”
Fletcher also served as the assistant tournament director for the Wachovia Betsy King Classic from 1996 through 2004, serving in a variety of different roles. Her work with the championship earned a selection to work with Betsy King at the 2007 Solheim Cup in Sweden.
Prior to her arrival at Northwestern, she spent 20 years with the Glen View Club as the director of instruction, teaching professional and assistant manager for golf operations. Fletcher also spent four seasons as an assistant golf professional at the Desert Highlands Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
A graduate of Ferris State University, Fletcher was an AIAW Division II All-American.
Under Fletcher's watch, Northwestern has qualified for 16 consecutive NCAA Championships (2010-25), earned 10 NCAA Championship Final berths (2013-19, 2023-25), captured three Big Ten Conference crowns (2013, 2015, 2016), and led the program to its first national championship (2025). She piloted Northwestern to four consecutive Top-10 results at the NCAA Championship Finals (2015-18) and has seen her team finish in the top 15 in nine of its 10 NCAA Championship Final appearances.
Fletcher and assistant coach Beth Miller, who have worked side by side for all 17 seasons, capped a storybook year in 2024-25 by securing the program's first national championship by securing a thrilling 3-2 win over No. 1 Stanford on May 21, 2025, in the NCAA National Championship Match at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. All five of Stanford's players were ranked in the top 20 in the country. Undefeated in stroke play the entire season, the Cardinal also dominated the NCAA Championship Finals, finishing 21 shots ahead of the field after 72 holes. That didn't phase five Wildcats – three from California, one from Taiwan, and a senior from Seattle, Lauryn Nguyen, that everyone was playing for – who banded together to bring home a championship.
In match play – inclusive of the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final – all five members of the team won at least one match, with every member contributing to the championship. In the semifinals, it was Ashley Yun, Elise Lee & Dianna Lee who won their matches. The quarterfinals saw Elise Lee, Lauryn Nguyen and Hsin Tai Lin secure victories.
The Wildcats, who were ranked No. 11 nationally entering the tournament, defeated No. 6 Arkansas and No. 2 Oregon to reach the championship round. The title marks the 12th team national championship in Northwestern history.
Fletcher enjoyed another milestone season guiding the 'Cats in 2016-17, a campaign that saw Northwestern win the stroke play portion of the NCAA Championship Finals at Rich Harvest Farms in suburban Sugar Grove, Ill. All five members of the Wildcat lineup placed inside the top 24 on the individual leaderboard en route to finishing nine strokes clear of No. 2 Stanford. Fletcher's crew went on to pick up a pair of wins in match play, highlighted by a thrilling come-from-behind win over No. 6 Southern California, before ultimately falling to top-ranked Arizona State in the national championship match.
Fletcher has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year six times (2024, 2023, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2011) and was recognized as Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Central Region Coach of the Year in 2016, 2017, 2023 and 2025, as well as the WGCA National Coach of the Year in 2025.
During her decorated tenue, Fletcher's Wildcats have earned:
21 All-America honors (WGCA/Golfweek)
50 All-Big Ten awards
Seven Big Ten Freshman of the Year awards
Four Big Ten Player of the Year awards
Two Mary Fossum Awards
43 WGCA All-American Scholar nods
99 Academic All-Big Ten honors
Her tenure has produced the top-16 career scoring averages in the Wildcats' record book, as well as the top-25 single-season scoring marks in program history.
Fletcher, who is the second head coach of the Northwestern women's golf team, brought more than 20 years of experience as a teacher and coach to Evanston, including spending nine years mentoring on the LPGA Tour. She served as the primary swing instructor for the LPGA's Jenny Lidback, helping her become the 1995 DuMaurier Classic champion, one of the LPGA's four majors. Lidback also captured 20 top-10 finishes under Fletcher's tutelage.
"I had known Emily for over 15 years and had always thought she would make a great college coach," Northwestern Director of Golf Pat Goss said of Fletcher's hiring. "I am especially impressed with her background and relationships in professional golf. Our goal is to attract women who want to pursue golf with the goal of playing professionally. Emily has a strong belief in what Northwestern University and our golf programs stand for.”
Fletcher also served as the assistant tournament director for the Wachovia Betsy King Classic from 1996 through 2004, serving in a variety of different roles. Her work with the championship earned a selection to work with Betsy King at the 2007 Solheim Cup in Sweden.
Prior to her arrival at Northwestern, she spent 20 years with the Glen View Club as the director of instruction, teaching professional and assistant manager for golf operations. Fletcher also spent four seasons as an assistant golf professional at the Desert Highlands Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
A graduate of Ferris State University, Fletcher was an AIAW Division II All-American.