BIDDEFORD, Maine – University of New England Director of Athletics Heather Davis has announced that women's golf will become a varsity sport beginning in the 2024-25 academic year. In conjunction, Kasey Keenan '02 will be promoted to serve as Head Golf Coach for both the men's and women's programs, effective July 1.

"We are thrilled to add women's golf to our current offerings of varsity sports," shared Davis. "Not only does this provide more participation opportunities for female student-athletes, but it also closely aligns with the rapid growth of women's golf in and around our conference. I would like to thank UNE's senior administrators for their support of this move."

The Commonwealth Coast Conference does not currently sponsor women's golf, but three core members are scheduled to be competing in the fall of 2023, and it is anticipated that others will join in over the next two years. The league would be able to gain an automatic bid into the national championship when sponsorship reaches six institutions.

"I also have no doubt that Kasey will do a phenomenal job launching this program," Davis added. "With his deep knowledge of UNE and unwavering commitment to our institution, we are confident he is the right person to take the lead on this."

Keenan is the longest-tenured head coach at UNE, having managed the Nor'easter men's golf program for 18 seasons. He has been on campus for the last 25, starting back in 1998 as a student-athlete in golf (3 years), basketball (4), and soccer (1). "I want to thank Heather for the opportunity to be part of building a women's program here," he remarked. "Women's golf is a growing sport within New England and the CCC, and I am extremely excited to begin the recruiting process this summer."

If current students express interest during 2023-24, some form of competition could potentially begin earlier than the fall of 2024.

Women's golf, like men's golf, will be able to compete in both the fall and spring sports seasons, with the NCAA Championship contested each May. During 2022-23, 16 institutions within the New England region sponsored women's golf, and 239 across the country were eligible for the Division III tournament. Since UNE fully joined the NCAA in 1999-2000, the divisional sponsorship in women's golf has nearly doubled; it is among the top three women's sports with the largest percentage increase over that time.

UNE currently fields 18 varsity sports, with the most recent additions being women's track & field in 2020-21, football in 2018-19, women's rugby in 2016-17, and women's ice hockey in 2012-13.