CHICAGO – The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Department of Athletics has named Angela Rayhill as head coach to lead its women's golf program, subject to approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. A coach with extensive experience at the collegiate level in Chicago, Rayhill comes to UIC from Chicago State, where she has led the Cougars' women's golf program since 2015.
"I would like to thank Michael Lipitz, Galen Duncan and the search committee for this wonderful opportunity to coach the women's golf team at UIC," Rayhill said. "I know the program has talented young women and I am eager to start working with them and the support staff to foster a strong team culture. I look forward to continuing to build the foundation that has been set to lead this program to future championships."
"Angela is a talented and experienced head coach who is devoted to helping her student-athletes realize their full potential on- and off-the-course," said director of athletics Michael Lipitz. "She embraces the opportunity to advance UIC women's golf and our student-athletes will benefit from her leadership. Special thanks to Dr. Galen Duncan for his stewardship of our search process."
During her more than eight seasons at the helm at Chicago State, Rayhill led the Cougars to multiple top-five finishes at the PGA Works Collegiate Championships (formerly the PGA Minority Championship), including a second-place finish in 2016 and a third-place finish in in 2017. In 2023, the CSU women's golf team earned a wire-to-wire victory at the 28th Annual National Women's Collegiate Golf Championship, bringing home a trophy named in honor of Renee Powell, who was the second-ever African American woman to play on the LPGA Tour. Rayhill also coached Montserrat Ramirez to individual medalist honors at the Starks Invite in March.
"Throughout the interview process it became more and more evident that Coach Rayhill was an extremely good fit for our program," said Dr. Galen Duncan, UIC's women's golf sport administrator and Sr. Associate Athletics Director for Health, Wellness & Performance. "I look forward to supporting her in advancing our UIC Women's Golf program.
Prior to her arrival at CSU in February 2015, she was an assistant women's golf coach at Chicago's North Park University during the 2012-13 school year and was a former assistant golf professional at the Midlothian Country Club in Midlothian, Ill.
An accomplished collegiate and professional player, Rayhill was a member of the Rend Lake College women's golf team that advanced to the NJCAA National Championship in 2007 and 2008. She won the individual medalist honors at the 2008 NJCAA Region XXIV Championship and finished 22nd nationally. Rayhill completed her collegiate career at the University of Southern Indiana where she won the Great Lakes Valley Conference individual title. As a professional golfer, Rayhill played in LPGA T&CP events including the Midwest Section Pro-Pro in St. Louis, Mo.
Rayhill is the third head coach in the history of the UIC women's golf program, which was established in 2011. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband Ryan and daughter, Brooklyn.
