Aug. 8, 2011
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Megan Menzel has been selected as the head coach for the University of Iowa women’s golf program, UI Director of Athletics Gary Barta announced today. Menzel joins the Hawkeyes after serving as a teaching professional at the Denver Country Club since 2009.
“The University of Iowa has always been a very special place to me, and I look forward to carrying on the strong academic and athletic traditions of this great university,” said Menzel. “The golf team has great leadership returning and a strong freshman class. I look forward to our team climbing the ranks in the Big Ten Conference and establishing a national reputation of excellence.”
Menzel brings a wealth of collegiate coaching experience with her to Iowa City, having served as the head coach at three separate institutions — Boise State (1998-99), Colorado State (2000-2002) and Kansas (2002-04).
During her most recent coaching stint with the Jayhawks, Menzel recruited the first individual conference champion at KU, while helping the program improve its overall conference and national rankings. She also initiated an $800,000 fundraising effort to improve the Kansas facilities and created the program’s booster organization.
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“The University of Iowa has always been a very special place to me, and I look forward to carrying on the strong academic and athletic traditions of this great university. The golf team has great leadership returning and a strong freshman class. I look forward to our team climbing the ranks in the Big Ten Conference and establishing a national reputation of excellence.”
Megan Menzel, UI head women’s golf coach
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After two seasons in Lawrence and five seasons as a head coach, Menzel resigned her post as the Jayhawks’ head coach to focus on her growing family. Menzel returned to the golf teaching circles as the assistant golf professional at Lawrence Country Club from 2007-09. In April 2009, she joined the golf teaching staff at the Denver Country Club in Colorado.
“We are very excited to add Megan as our head women’s golf coach,” said Barta. “Megan brings a wealth of coaching and teaching experience to our program. She shares the Iowa values and has a proven track record in building programs. We are confident in Megan’s ability to develop our student-athletes and move our women’s golf program forward.”
Menzel’s first coaching opportunity came at Boise State, where she was in charge of the program during the 1998-99 campaign at the age of 23. She recruited the first ever individual NCAA Regional qualifier in Bronco history.
Following one season in Boise, Menzel took over as head coach at Colorado State in July of 2000. During her stint with the Rams, she recruited and coached the 2002 Mountain West Conference individual champion. Her squad qualified for NCAA Regionals in 2001 and 2002 and claimed the 2001 CSU Invitational team title.
Academically, Menzel’s team led the CSU Athletics Department in cumulative grade point average during the 2001 season, and she coached three academic all-conference student-athletes during her stint at the school.
Menzel played collegiate golf at the University of New Mexico from 1993-97, where she led the Lobos to three Western Athletic Conference titles (1994, 1995, 1996). The two-time team captain (1995, 1996), was a two-time academic all-conference selection, while being named the 1996-97 Bank of America Academic Athlete of the Year.
Menzel graduated from New Mexico in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She is an LPGA Apprentice and A.C.E. certified personal trainer. She also holds golf fitness certification levels I and II from the Titleist Performance Institute.
Menzel, who was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is married to Craig Menzel and the couple has three children — Kennedy (9), Callie (8), and Maclayne (6).