Entering her ninth season as the coach of the UCF women[apos]s golf team, coach Jill Fjelstul has built a national contender.
There were big shoes to fill when the 1995-96 team reached the NCAA Tournament and were then left without a coach for the following season. Fjelstul took the job and the responsibility, then began the reconstruction.
Nine years later, the Golden Knights are among the nation[apos]s elite and expect to not only make it to the NCAAs, but finish in the top half of competition.
Fjelstul began her coaching tenure at UCF by making a big impression, placing second at the Atlantic Sun Tournament in her first season. Although the Golden Knights did not win any tournaments during the 1996-97 season, they started a foundation of excellence for years to come.
The team picked up momentum during the 1997-98 season. UCF placed third in three of their four fall tournaments and finished in the top three in three spring tournaments. The one first place finish came at the Hatter Spring Fling.
In 1998-99, UCF continued its climb to success, placing in the Top 10 in all but one of their 10 tournaments. The Golden Knights placed first after hosting their first UCF Invitational, and won the A-Sun Championship. Fjelstul was honored with Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year and Line Berg was A-Sun Player of the Year.
In 1999-2000, UCF won the Atlantic Sun Tournament by coming from an unbelievable 19 strokes back on the final day to overtake Campbell. The Golden Knights went on to the NCAA East Regional in Columbus, Ohio, where they missed the cut and placed 15th out of 24 teams. Fjelstul was honored with her second Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year honor in back-to-back seasons and four Golden Knights were named to the All-A-Sun team.
In 2000-01, UCF began the season placing 12th at the NCAA Fall Preview among the nation[apos]s elite. The Golden Knights were ranked as high as 14th in the nation during the fall tour. After a second place finish at the Atlantic Sun Tournment, UCF earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, sending them to West Lafayette, Ind., where they came up short in their attempt to qualify for the national championship.
In 2001-02, Fjelstul led UCF to another trip to the NCAA South Regional in Baton Rouge, La., as the Knights placed 15th. UCF finished second in the A-Sun and earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The regular season Atlantic Sun Champions, Fjelstul coached the Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year (Federica Piovano) and second team all-Atlantic Sun performers Olivia Hartley and Kim Tudor. As a team, the Knights won the UCF Invitational, while placing second at the Memphis Invitational and the Hatter Fall Classic.
Perhaps the greatest testament to Fjelstul is her recruiting. In her eight years she has brought in some of the best golfers from around the world to come play for UCF, as well as transfers from top-notch collegiate programs.
A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, with a degree in general studies, Fjelstul lettered in golf for four years and was the team captain her junior and senior year. She set several individual playing records and was instrumental in setting Northern Iowa team records as well.
After earning a master[apos]s degree in physical education with an emphasis on exercise physiology from Northern Iowa in 1987, Fjelstul started as an instructor in physical education in Northern Iowa[apos]s College of Health. A year later she was named the head coach of her alma mater, leading the Panthers[apos] women[apos]s golf program until 1991 when she moved to Florida to advance her career in the field of golf instruction.
Fjelstul maintained her duties as an instructor during her coaching tenure at Northern Iowa and became a well-respected researcher in the field of exercise physiology. She has had several articles published in research journals and was a popular conference speaker.
In October of 2001 Fjelstul was inducted into the University of Northern Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame.
An LPGA teaching professional, Fjelstul came to UCF from Lake Sumter Community College where she was an instructor and a career counselor and was very active in local fund-raising efforts. Prior to her appointment at LSCC, she was a marketing and sales representative for Marriott resorts where she continues organized corporate golf outings.
Fjelstul is also the only coach at UCF to serve on the Student-Athlete Relation Committee for two years. She is also in the first year of serving on the NCAA East Regional Selection Committee.