MIAMI SHORES, Fla.— Barry University director of athletics Michael L. Covone announced Gina Umeck as the third head coach of the Buccaneer women’s golf program.
Umeck, who helped lead UCLA to the 2004 NCAA Division I national title and later played on the Duramed Futures Tour, takes over for Patti Rizzo who left at the end of the 2010 season to return to the University of Miami where she was an All-America golfer before spending 20 years on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.
“We are very excited to have Gina join our staff and family. Her collegiate and professional playing success will benefit all student-athletes,” Covone said. “She is a quality person who fits Barry University’s mission and philosophy. We look forward to our women’s golf program continuing to recruit quality students, and challenge for the national championship every year.”
Umeck played on the Duramed Futures Tour from 2005-2010, making the cut in 90 percent of her tournament outings and recording three top-10 finishes. Prior to that, she played from 2001-04 at UCLA, helping the Bruins win the 2004 NCAA Division I national title. She fired a 291 at the championship to tie for 16th. In 2002, she led the Bruins to the team title at the West Regional, firing a team-best 220 to finish seventh. She earned honorable mention All-Pac 10 Conference honors all four years with the Bruins. In the classroom, she earned Academic All-Pac 10 each of her four years, placing on UCLA’s Director’s List in 11 of her 12 quarters.
“I am at once excited and inspired to be joining the Barry athletics community as the new head women's golf coach,” Umeck said. “Barry's location in south Florida and its very supportive staff provide any student or athlete a perfect opportunity for development, and I am warmed by the chance to contribute to all different levels of success of our student-athletes.”
The Bucs, who advanced to the NCAA South Regional for the fifth straight year and eight of the past nine, return six players, including Isadora Stapff, Lizzi Over and Trish Gibbens who all played in at least eight of the Bucs' 10 tournaments last year.
