October 31, 2005
ORLANDO - Former LPGA Tour veteran Emilee Klein was named head coach of the UCF women's golf program, UCF director of athletics Steve Orsini announced Monday. The appointment of Klein is effective immediately.
"Emilee has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and we are pleased she will be applying that level of dedication to the UCF women's golf program," Orsini said. "She has had success at every level of golf as a player and she has the drive and determination to be just as successful as a coach. She will provide great leadership for our student-athletes."
Klein recently announced her retirement as a player on the LPGA Tour, where she was a three-time event winner and earned more than $3 million in prize money. She spent 11 years on the LPGA Tour and was a member of the United States' 2002 Solheim Cup team.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity to lead the UCF golf program," Klein said. "I believe I can help the current players to improve. I'm also confident I will be able to recruit the right student-athletes in order to elevate the program to national prominence. I have lofty goals for the program and am looking forward to starting the building process."
As a college player at Arizona State Klein reached the pinnacle of women's collegiate golf. She was twice named First-Team All-American and she earned Golfweek Collegiate Player of the Year honors after winning the NCAA individual title in 1994. She also won two NCAA team titles with the Sun Devils and claimed numerous individual collegiate titles.
She was also a decorated amateur who earned a spot on the U.S Curtis Cup team in 1994. She was a First-Team AJGA All-American four times (1989-92) and was named the AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year in 1991, the same year she claimed the USGA Junior Girls Championship.
As a professional, she won the 1996 Ping Welch's Championship in Boston and the 1996 Weetabix Women's British Open. Her third LPGA Tour title came in 2001 at the Michelob Light Classic. She also has served as an analyst for The Golf Channel since 2002.
Klein replaces Jill Fjelstul, who after nine years as head coach, resigned in August to take a position as assistant professor at UCF's Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Assistant coach Mike Akers has been acting as head coach in the absence of a full-time coach.