Jan. 17, 2012
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa women’s golfer Laura Cilek has been tabbed as assistant coach, it was announced today by first-year UI head coach Megan Menzel.
Cilek, who has served as the interim assistant coach since August, played for the Hawkeyes from 2007-11, where she was a four-year letterwinner. During her UI career, she was a four-time recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. In 2009-10, Cilek was one of 22 student-athletes in the Big Ten Conference named the Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winner.
“I am thrilled to have Laura return to our program as a member of our coaching staff,” said Menzel. “I believe she is a great young talent in coaching, and she was an outstanding student-athlete at Iowa. As a native of Iowa City, Laura will be a tremendous ambassador for our university community and our women’s golf program.”
The Iowa City, Iowa, native served as the team captain for three seasons, and was a member of Iowa’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in 2009 and 2010.
“Coach Menzel has a great vision for the future of Iowa golf, and I am very excited that she has given me the opportunity to help her achieve that vision,” said Cilek. “Having been a student-athlete at Iowa and growing up in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes have always held a special place in my heart, and it means a lot to me to be a part of a great program and institution.”
Cilek, who played 109 rounds in her Hawkeye career, posted a career-best 78.6 scoring average over 30 rounds during her senior season. She finished fourth at the Chip-N-Club Invitational — a career-best — and fired a career-low round of 70 at the Badger Invitational.
During her junior season, Cilek was tabbed as the Big Ten Golfer of the Week on March 17, 2010, after leading the Hawkeyes to a sixth place finish at the Jackrabbit Invitational.
Off the course, Cilek was named to the Dean’s List in 2008 and 2010. Following her junior season, she did a United States Senate internship for Senator Tom Harkin in Washington D.C., and she has also worked in the pro shop at Iowa’s Finkbine Golf Course since 2007.
Cilek graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in political science with a minor in communications in May 2011.