University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Brinsmead Announces End of Coaching Tenure
5/9/2024 10:54:00 AM | Women's Golf
Coach to depart the program after the uppcoming NCAA Championships
University of Minnesota women's golf coach Rhyll Brinsmead has announced that she will leave the program – and the coaching profession – at the conclusion of the upcoming NCAA Championships to spend more time with her family.
Minnesota will be represented by Isabella McCauley at the May 17-22 NCAA Championships at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. McCauley advanced to the national championship tournament with a second-place finish at the Auburn Regional site yesterday.
"I have loved every minute of building this program, and I am so proud of the current state of the program and the work we have done in the last three-and-a-half years," said Brinsmead. "I want to thank the Minnesota golf community for embracing my vision and supporting me wholeheartedly, as I absolutely loved keeping Minnesotans home.
"I owe a great amount of gratitude to Mark Coyle and Julie Manning for trusting me to lead this program. It was a tremendous responsibility and one I took seriously. The steps forward we made during my time as head coach are all due to the commitment and investment of our amazing athletes. The athletes are the hardest people to leave, and I want to truly thank you for being Gophers.
"Thank you to our donors and supporters, Minnesota is a special place due to the fans. After 21 years in coaching, I am excited to switch roles and start a new adventure with my family."
Brinsmead was named Minnesota head coach in January 2021 after spending 13 years as the head coach at Kennesaw State. She was also an assistant coach at Iowa State from 2005-07.
Brinsmead-coached Gophers rank first, second and fourth in school history in 18-hole score, first, second, sixth and eighth in 36-hole score and first, second, fifth, eighth and tenth in 54-hole score. Minnesota also set a school record for the lowest 18-hole round (263 at the 2022 Evie Odom Invitational) and the lowest 54-hole round (845 at the 2022 Evie Odom Invitational) under Brinsmead.
"We thank Rhyll for her dedication and passion in leading our women's golf program," said Coyle. "The program is headed in the right direction, and we wish Rhyll and her family all the best moving forward. We will immediately start a national search for our next head coach."
This year, McCauley won the Big Ten Championship becoming the first Gopher to do so – and only the second ever – since Kate Hughes in 1989.
Brinsmead coached two Gophers to individual NCAA postseason competition. McCauley will compete in the 2024 NCAA Championship after finishing tied for 78th at the event last year. In addition, Luisamariana Mesones played in the NCAA Regionals in 2023.
In Big Ten Championship play, Minnesota finished ninth (2024), ninth (2023), 12th (2022) and 11th (2021) under Brinsmead.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Brinsmead received a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science from Texas State and a master's degree in educational leadership and policy studies from Iowa State.
Minnesota will be represented by Isabella McCauley at the May 17-22 NCAA Championships at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. McCauley advanced to the national championship tournament with a second-place finish at the Auburn Regional site yesterday.
"I have loved every minute of building this program, and I am so proud of the current state of the program and the work we have done in the last three-and-a-half years," said Brinsmead. "I want to thank the Minnesota golf community for embracing my vision and supporting me wholeheartedly, as I absolutely loved keeping Minnesotans home.
"I owe a great amount of gratitude to Mark Coyle and Julie Manning for trusting me to lead this program. It was a tremendous responsibility and one I took seriously. The steps forward we made during my time as head coach are all due to the commitment and investment of our amazing athletes. The athletes are the hardest people to leave, and I want to truly thank you for being Gophers.
"Thank you to our donors and supporters, Minnesota is a special place due to the fans. After 21 years in coaching, I am excited to switch roles and start a new adventure with my family."
Brinsmead was named Minnesota head coach in January 2021 after spending 13 years as the head coach at Kennesaw State. She was also an assistant coach at Iowa State from 2005-07.
Brinsmead-coached Gophers rank first, second and fourth in school history in 18-hole score, first, second, sixth and eighth in 36-hole score and first, second, fifth, eighth and tenth in 54-hole score. Minnesota also set a school record for the lowest 18-hole round (263 at the 2022 Evie Odom Invitational) and the lowest 54-hole round (845 at the 2022 Evie Odom Invitational) under Brinsmead.
"We thank Rhyll for her dedication and passion in leading our women's golf program," said Coyle. "The program is headed in the right direction, and we wish Rhyll and her family all the best moving forward. We will immediately start a national search for our next head coach."
This year, McCauley won the Big Ten Championship becoming the first Gopher to do so – and only the second ever – since Kate Hughes in 1989.
Brinsmead coached two Gophers to individual NCAA postseason competition. McCauley will compete in the 2024 NCAA Championship after finishing tied for 78th at the event last year. In addition, Luisamariana Mesones played in the NCAA Regionals in 2023.
In Big Ten Championship play, Minnesota finished ninth (2024), ninth (2023), 12th (2022) and 11th (2021) under Brinsmead.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Brinsmead received a bachelor's degree in exercise and sports science from Texas State and a master's degree in educational leadership and policy studies from Iowa State.
Reese McCauley Hole in One
Tuesday, September 16
Alum Emma Carpenter Makes BTN Debut
Monday, September 08
Isabella & Reese McCauley - Gopher Women's Golf - Minnesota Made
Friday, May 09
Teeing Off - ANNIKA Intercollegiate
Monday, September 09