CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman announced today a contract extension for head women’s golf coach Renee Slone. The extension, which will be considered by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees at its November 17th meeting, will keep Slone leading the Fighting Illini through at least the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
“I am thrilled to see Renee continue leading the program that she has helped shape since her arrival as a player more than 30 years ago,” said Whitman. “Renee’s commitment to the holistic development of her student-athletes has always been without peer, and in recent years, her years of hard work have begun to yield truly impressive on-course results. I couldn’t be happier for Renee and for our program, and I am excited to watch the team’s continued ascent among the best in the Big Ten and the NCAA.”
Former Fighting Illini legend Coach Slone enters her 17th season as head coach of the Illinois women’s golf team in 2022-23. Formerly Renee Heiken, Coach Slone played for the Illini from 1990-93 and is the most decorated golfer in Illinois history.
Illinois has achieved new heights under Coach Slone, who was the 2019 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Illinois reached the NCAA Championships for the first time ever in 2019 after finishing fifth at the East Lansing Regional, the highest regional finish in program history. The Illini’s second-place finishes at the Big Ten Tournament in 2018 and 2019 were the best conference finishes since a second-place finish in 1976. Coach Slone has led Illinois to seven of its nine NCAA Regional appearances, including each of the last five tournaments.
At Illinois, Slone’s student-athletes have found individual success on the course, including 19 student-athletes awarded All-Big Ten, 20 Big Ten Golfers of the Week, and 10 individual golf tournament winners. Slone also garnered her own honors by being inducted into both the National Golf Coaches Association (now WGCA) Players Hall of Fame and the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame. In 2017, she was an inaugural member of the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame. Slone earned the 2018-19 Big Ten Coach of the Year award after leading the Illini to their best finish in program history.
During this current season, the Illini have posted the second-lowest 54-hole tournament score total and the…
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