University of Tennessee Athletics
November 03, 2026 | Women's Golf
With the fall college golf season in the books, the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) announced its watch list for the Jackie Steinmann National Coach of the Year Award Presented by Golf Pride. Tennessee's sixth-year head coach, Diana Cantú, was one of 20 coaches across the nation to earn recognition.
Cantú has continued to elevate the Tennessee women's golf program each year under her leadership. After a 2025-26 campaign that culminated in the program's first-ever SEC Championship and a second consecutive NCAA Championship appearance, she continued the momentum by leading the Lady Vols to a strong fall season.
In four events this fall, Tennessee earned four top-four team finishes, including a victory at the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate for a second consecutive season as well as runner-up finishes at the Cougar Classic and the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate.
In terms of individual performances, a Lady Vol finished within the top 10 of a tournament eight times this fall. This includes an individual victory for Madison Messimer at the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate, where she matched the tournament record 54-hole score at 12-under-par.
Under Cantú, Tennessee has risen in the national rankings each year. After ranking as high as No. 16 during the 2025-26 season, Tennessee achieved a No. 9 ranking in the Clippd/Scoreboard national rankings this fall. It marked the highest ranking the Lady Vols have received in the Cantú era and the team's first top-10 ranking since 2007.
With 43 coaching wins this fall, Cantú's tally of 498 wins at Tennessee is just two shy of the 500-win milestone ahead of the spring season. She currently sits third in program history in coaching wins, just 34 behind second-placed Lori Brock. Cantú's predecessor, long-time head coach Judi Pavon, holds the program win record at 2,212.
Jackie Steinmann WGCA National Coach of the Year Presented by Golf Pride Watchlist
South Region
Melissa Luellen – Auburn University
Janice Olivencia – University of Miami
Kory Henkes – University of Mississippi
Kalen Anderson – University of South Carolina
Diana Cantú – University of Tennessee
East Region
Ria Scott – University of Virginia
Kim Lewellen – Wake Forest University
Dan Brooks – Duke University
Erika DeSanty – Princeton University
Carol Robertson – Virginia Tech University
Central Region
Laura Ianello – University of Texas
Gerrod Chadwell – Texas A&M University
Shauna Taylor – University of Arkansas
Christie Martens – Iowa State University
West Region
Justin Silverstein – University of Southern California
Anne Walker – Stanford University
Derek Radley – University of Oregon
Missy Farr-Kaye – Arizona State University
Alicia Um Holmes – University of California, Los Angeles
Cantú has continued to elevate the Tennessee women's golf program each year under her leadership. After a 2025-26 campaign that culminated in the program's first-ever SEC Championship and a second consecutive NCAA Championship appearance, she continued the momentum by leading the Lady Vols to a strong fall season.
In four events this fall, Tennessee earned four top-four team finishes, including a victory at the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate for a second consecutive season as well as runner-up finishes at the Cougar Classic and the Abilene Christian Intercollegiate.
In terms of individual performances, a Lady Vol finished within the top 10 of a tournament eight times this fall. This includes an individual victory for Madison Messimer at the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate, where she matched the tournament record 54-hole score at 12-under-par.
Under Cantú, Tennessee has risen in the national rankings each year. After ranking as high as No. 16 during the 2025-26 season, Tennessee achieved a No. 9 ranking in the Clippd/Scoreboard national rankings this fall. It marked the highest ranking the Lady Vols have received in the Cantú era and the team's first top-10 ranking since 2007.
With 43 coaching wins this fall, Cantú's tally of 498 wins at Tennessee is just two shy of the 500-win milestone ahead of the spring season. She currently sits third in program history in coaching wins, just 34 behind second-placed Lori Brock. Cantú's predecessor, long-time head coach Judi Pavon, holds the program win record at 2,212.
Jackie Steinmann WGCA National Coach of the Year Presented by Golf Pride Watchlist
South Region
Melissa Luellen – Auburn University
Janice Olivencia – University of Miami
Kory Henkes – University of Mississippi
Kalen Anderson – University of South Carolina
Diana Cantú – University of Tennessee
East Region
Ria Scott – University of Virginia
Kim Lewellen – Wake Forest University
Dan Brooks – Duke University
Erika DeSanty – Princeton University
Carol Robertson – Virginia Tech University
Central Region
Laura Ianello – University of Texas
Gerrod Chadwell – Texas A&M University
Shauna Taylor – University of Arkansas
Christie Martens – Iowa State University
West Region
Justin Silverstein – University of Southern California
Anne Walker – Stanford University
Derek Radley – University of Oregon
Missy Farr-Kaye – Arizona State University
Alicia Um Holmes – University of California, Los Angeles
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
Friday, May 08
Sunday, May 18
Friday, May 16
Friday, May 16
