ARLINGTON, Texas – The University of Texas at Arlington is adding women’s golf to its Division I intercollegiate sport programs with competition to begin in the 2017-2018 academic year.
Jim Baker, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, said the addition allows for increased participation and opportunities for women, while strengthening UT Arlington’s footprint in the Sun Belt Conference.
“Enhancing opportunities for female student-athletes is part of our mission here at UT Arlington,” Baker said. “The addition of women’s golf furthers our commitment to building and fielding championship-caliber Division I programs in each of our sport programs.”
The addition of women’s golf is the first sport expansion for UT Arlington Athletics since women’s tennis in 1983.
UT Arlington is beginning a national search for a new head coach who will lead the combined men’s and women’s golf programs. Additional staffing and resources will be allocated to the women’s golf program to prepare for the 2017-18 season.
The new women’s golf program will capitalize on regional talent and interest in the sport, Baker said.
“The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is a hotbed for women’s golf,” he said. “The makings of the top golf program are right here – talented junior golfers, top courses and great weather year around.”
The Sun Belt Conference’s membership consists of 13 institutions for 2014-15: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Idaho, UL Lafayette, UL Monroe, New Mexico State, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy, UALR and UT Arlington. UALR and UT Arlington compete in all sports as non-football members while Idaho and New Mexico State are football-only members.
