CHICAGO – UIC women's golf head coach Mat Blair has announced his intention to step down from his position following the conclusion of the 2023 spring season to focus on the launch of his new golf business.
 
"I want thank UIC for allowing me the opportunity to be its coach the last six years," Blair said. "To all my players, I want to say thank you for working tirelessly to elevate the program. I will miss working with the team daily and will always be there for them. I look forward to my next adventure teaching and in the business world."
 
A former professional golfer and head coach at Missouri Valley Conference rival Valparaiso (2011-2016), Blair officially became the second head coach in program history in 2018, after serving as the Flames' interim head coach since Feb. 2017. Over Blair's six seasons at UIC, he coached a Horizon League Champion and multiple All-Horizon League golfers. Blair also led the Flames to fourth place finishes in the 2018 and 2021 Horizon League Championships, the program's top finishes in a conference tournament. His teams also excelled academically, routinely posting one of the highest GPAs in the department, including a 3.54 cumulative GPA last academic year.
 
"Mat has helped our women's golf student-athletes excel academically, develop competitively, and elevated the profile of the UIC women's golf program," said director of athletics Michael Lipitz. "On behalf of Flames Athletics, we thank Mat for his dedication and commitment and wish he and his family every success as they embark on this exciting next chapter."
 
The 2022-23 season to date has been one of the best in UIC women's golf history. Senior Megan Tang won the individual title at the Briar Ridge Invitational, UIC's first individual honor since 2017-18. Graduate Student Dasa Urbankova has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Week four times thus far this season. The Flames have also finished sixth place or better in six competitions this season, including third place results at the Butler and Loyola Fall Invitational Tournaments.
 
The Flames will compete in their inaugural Missouri Valley Conference Tournament from April 16-18 at the Annbriar Golf Course in Waterloo, Ill.
 
Dr. Galen Duncan, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Health, Wellness, and Performance, and sport supervisor for UIC women's golf, will lead the national search for next head coach.