Nov. 12, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - University of North Carolina head women's golf coach Sally Austin will step down at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season to pursue other interests and to spend more time with her family after serving as coach of the Tar Heels for the last 16 years.

"It is with mixed emotions that I leave this great University," says Austin. "My greatest joy has been working with these wonderful young women on one of the finest teams in the country. I look forward to continuing to follow the success of all of Carolina's teams in the coming years."

"Sally Austin has spent more than 20 years of her life as a Tar Heel golfer, assistant coach and head coach," says Director of Athletics Dick Baddour. "She is a true ambassador for the game of golf, for women's athletics and the University of North Carolina. Sally is as big a fan of all our sports as anyone I know. She has led our golf program in a first-class manner. We thank her for her dedicated service to teaching young people and giving them an opportunity to attend UNC and develop as a person and a golfer. Sally will always be close to our entire athletic program and will always be one of Carolina golf's biggest fans."

In Austin's 15½ seasons at the helm, Carolina has finished in the top 25 at the NCAA Championship six times. The Tar Heels have won six tournament titles and seven players have captured 14 individual championships while under Austin's tutelage. Austin has coached five All-Americas who have been named to the team seven times and nine All-ACC performers named to the team on 16 occasions. In addition, one of her players, Marcy Newton, was selected ACC Rookie of the Year in 1996-97 and was named to the 1999 Golfweek Sagarin Mid Atlantic/East District First Team.

Several of Austin's players have been honored academically as well. Rachel Poston was named to the 1996 GTE Academic All-America District III At-Large Team. Several players have been selected to the National Golf Coaches Association's All-America Scholar Team - Staci Aber in 1994 and Shannon Boyle in 2005 and 2006. In addition, Sydney Crane, a senior this year, was selected to the inaugural 2007 All-ACC Academic Women's Golf Team while Crane, Ann Laney and Katie Miller were selected to the 2007 squad; and Crane and Laney were named to the 2008 team.

Austin was selected the LPGA Coach of the Year in 2004. In 1999, she was named the LPGA SE Section Coach of the Year.

The Tar Heels' highest NCAA finish under Austin was an eighth-place finish in 1995. Carolina finished 13th in 2003 and 15th in 1998 and 2004. The Tar Heels are enjoying one of their finest seasons to date as they finished second or third in all four of their fall tournaments.

Austin, a native of Raeford, N.C., became the head coach of the Tar Heels following the 1992-93 season when longtime head coach Dot Gunnells retired.

Upon graduation from North Carolina in 1977 and after being a four-year letterwinner on the women's golf team, Austin continued her pursuit of golf. The winner of the 1979 North Carolina Women's Amateur Championship, Austin won events on the Women's Professional Golf Tour and the Futures Tour. She received her LPGA Tour card in 1987.