Nov. 2, 2004

Daytona Beach, Fla. - North Carolina head women's golf coach Sally Austin received the LPGA Coach of the Year Award for 2004. The award, established in 1980, is awarded annually to a women golf professional who is actively engaged in teaching and/or coaching golf at the college, university or high school level.

Austin, from Raeford, N.C., was a member of the first women's golf team at Carolina in 1974 and was a four-time letterwinner, 1974-77. She returned to UNC in 1993 and is now in her 12th season as head coach of the Tar Heels.

In Austin's 11 seasons as head coach, Carolina has finished in the top 25 at the NCAA Championship five times. The Tar Heels have won six tournament titles with Austin at the helm. Also, five players have captured 12 individual championships while under Austin's tutelage. Austin has coached four All-Americas who have been named to the team six times and five All-ACC performers named to the team on 11 occasions.

In 2004, Carolina tied for 15th place at the NCAA Championship and two Tar Heels were selected first-team All-America - seniors Meaghan Francella and Ashley Prange. Carolina captured two tournament titles in 2004 while Prange posted two victories and Francella was the individual medalist at the NCAA East Regional. Francella was the runner-up at the ACC Championship while Prange finished third.

In addition to her coaching duties, Austin is an instructor at the Pine Needles Schools as well as the Tar Heel Golf Camps and Dianne Dailey Golf Camps and is a member of the LPGA Coaches Advisory Committee. An active member of the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA), Austin has served as treasurer and on the awards committee. She is currently a director-at-large for the NGCA.

"It's an incredible honor and so very humbling anytime you are recognized by your peers," said Austin, who was an LPGA Tour player in 1987. "But in this job, my goal is to help my players and help make them better. They're the ones who help get you awards like this. I didn't hit a ball all year! To see them fulfill their goals is meaningful, and that's why I was recognized. It's as much their award as it is mine."