After spending the last three seasons at the helm of the Florida Atlantic program, Aimee Neff was named the new head coach of the UNC women’s golf team on Friday.

A former associate head coach for the Tar Heels, Neff becomes the head coach after taking over for the retired Jan Mann — who had led the team since 2009.

Neff joins Mann, Sally Austin (1993-2009) and Dot Gunnells (1974-93) as the only head coaches in the history of the UNC women’s golf program.

When Neff took over at Florida Atlantic prior to the 2018-19 campaign, the Owls were ranked No. 189 nationally according to Golfweek. Last year, that ranking was up to No. 94.

Florida Atlantic won two team tournaments, four individual events and saw its team scoring average improve by 12 strokes per round under Neff’s leadership. Justine Fournand also won Conference USA Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year honors for Florida Atlantic during that time.

The Owls qualified for an NCAA Regional Tournament this past season and set new school records in par 3, par 4, par 5 and overall stroke average.

When Neff was the associate head coach at UNC during the 2017-18 season, the Tar Heels won the Briar’s Creek Invitational with the second-lowest 54-hole score in school history and qualified for the NCAA TPC Harding Park Regional in San Francisco.

A four-time All-Big Ten selection as a player at Michigan State from 2007-11, Neff has also had assistant coaching stints at her alma mater (2013-16) and at Vanderbilt (2016-27).

“Returning to Carolina as its head coach is an honor,” Neff said. “I am incredibly grateful to Bubba Cunningham for the opportunity to work at my dream job. I’d also like to thank Brian White, the Director of Athletics at Florida Atlantic University, for his support over the last three years.

“UNC is a special place because of its exceptional student-athletes and the men and women who work there and those who have been part of the program in the past,” she added. “It truly is a community of people who want to be excellent in what they do. I am eager to get to work and build off the program’s previous successes. UNC has the total package of academic prowess, athletic greatness, being a member of the ACC, committed alumni, geographic location and outstanding facilities.”

Neff takes over a UNC program which struggled this past season, finishing no higher than eighth in any of its team tournaments.

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
Golf: UNC's Brynn Walker to Compete at U.S. Women's Amateur
Returning UNC senior Brynn Walker will be competing in the upcoming U.S. Women’s Amateur at the Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland, which is scheduled to run from Aug. 3-9. Walker–who is coming off a third-place finish at the Donna Andrews Invitational in June–will tee off on Monday at 11 a.m. She will be paired […]
Women's Golf: UNC Finishes Fall Schedule With 12th Place Finish at Landfall Invitational
The UNC women’s golf team took home a 12th place finish following Sunday’s final round of the Landfall Invitational in Wilmington, the Tar Heels’ final event of their fall schedule. In each of the tournament’s three rounds, UNC shot a combined 8-over-par to finish 24-over-par at the end. Sophomore Jennifer Zhou was the team’s top […]
Five Current or Former Tar Heels Competing in LPGA Qualifying Tournament
A group of five current or former Tar Heels begin play in the second stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament on Monday in Venice, Florida, as they each try to earn a spot on the top tour in all of women’s golf. Current UNC senior Brynn Walker is the only one of the group still […]
Women's Golf: UNC in Fourth Place After First Round of Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational
Following Friday’s first round at Finley Golf Course, the UNC women’s golf team currently sits in fourth place overall in the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational. The Tar Heels shot a combined team score of 4-under-par at their home golf course in Chapel Hill, while sophomore Nicole Lu led the way individually with a 3-under-par […]
Women's Golf: Tar Heels Take Seventh at Mason Rudolph Championship
The UNC women’s golf team finished Sunday’s final round of the Mason Rudolph Championship at the Vanderbilt Legends Club with a seventh place finish, ending the event with a combined score of 14-over-par. Sunday saw the Tar Heels shoot 10-over-par to fall back in to seventh. Freshman Kayla Smith was UNC’s top individual performer in […]
UNC Women's Golf Tied for Third After First Round of Mason Rudolph Championship
The UNC women’s golf team wrapped up play in the first round of the Mason Rudolph Championship on Saturday, currently sitting in a tie for third place with a combined team score of even par at the Vanderbilt Legends North Course. Freshman Brynn Walker is the Tar Heels’ top individual performer so far, posting a […]
Women's Golf: UNC Earns No. 9 Seed for NCAA East Lansing Regional Tournament
The UNC women’s golf team was given the No. 9 seed on Wednesday evening among teams selected to play in the NCAA East Lansing Regional, which will be hosted by Michigan State University from May 6-8. This is the 26th time in program history that the Tar Heels have earned a place at an NCAA […]
UNC Women's Golf Takes Second Place at Bryan National Intercollegiate
The UNC women’s golf team took home its best finish of the season on Sunday in Browns Summit, NC, by finishing the final round of the Bryan National Collegiate in second place with a score of 2-under-par. Freshman Jennifer Zhou was the Tar Heels’ top individual performer, as she ended the event with a score […]
UNC Women's Golf Remains Third Overall Following Second Round of Bryan National Collegiate
Seeking its best finish of the season so far, the UNC women’s golf team held onto its spot in third place after Saturday’s second round at the Bryan National Collegiate in Browns Summit, NC. The Tar Heels shot a combined score of 4-under-par on Saturday to bring their overall score for the tournament to 1-under-par […]
UNC Women's Golf Earns Best Finish of Season in the Dominican Republic
Playing in the Tar Heel Classic–a tournament hosted by former UNC star Suzy Whaley in La Romana, Dominican Republic–the UNC women’s golf team posted its best finish of the season by ending up in fourth place overall. The Tar Heels posted a final team score of 6-over-par in the 15-team tournament. Wake Forest won the […]
›