GREENVILLE, S.C. – Jeff Hull has been elevated to head coach of the Paladin women's golf team, as announced Friday by Furman University Director of Athletics Mike Buddie.
"I am thrilled that Jeff Hull has agreed to lead our women's golf program," said Buddie. "The recent success of the team has been obvious, and Kelley Hester was quick to credit Jeff for playing a major role in that success. Jeff is an incredible teacher who relates very well to our players and recruits, and I am confident that the momentum of this program will continue to build."
"I am honored that Mike Buddie has given me the opportunity to lead the Furman women's golf program," said Hull at the time of his promotion. "When we came here four years ago, we were tasked with rebuilding a storied program. Because of the tremendous support of our alumni and the hard work of our talented young ladies, I feel that we have achieved that goal. I am excited to continue the upward trajectory of this program and lead this team to new heights."
Hull, who has served as the Furman assistant coach for the last four seasons and was promoted to associate head coach earlier this month, helped the Paladins to a 20th-place finish at the 2016 NCAA Championships in May. Following the Paladins' second-consecutive SoCon championship, Furman's 15th overall title, the team placed fourth at the NCAA Bryan Regional to advance to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2008. Junior Taylor Totland placed 20th among the nation's individuals, while sophomore Alice Chen was named the SoCon Co-Player of the Year and Haylee Harford claimed SoCon Freshman of the Year accolades.
As SoCon champions in 2015, the Paladins made their first NCAA regional appearance since 2010. Furman placed a league-record five players on the All-Southern Conference team and three on the SoCon All-Freshman squad after posting a record-low 54-hole score of 858 to win the league championship. Totland claimed SoCon individual medalist honors and was named the 2015 SoCon Player of the Year, while Chen placed second and claimed SoCon Freshman of the Year honors.
Totland, who was honored as Furman's 2015 Edna Hartness Female Athlete of the Year, earned All-American honorable mention accolades from both the WGCA and GolfWeek after tying for fifth at the NCAA East Regional and qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
In his first two years with the Paladins, Hull helped lead the Paladins to second-place finishes at the Southern Conference Championship.
Prior to his time at Furman, Hull, a former All-American at the University of South Carolina, served as assistant coach of the Georgia women's team during the 2011-12 season. He helped the Bulldogs to an NCAA Regional appearance and No. 9 national ranking.
Hull, who was the Gamecocks' career stroke-average record-holder when he completed his career in 1989, has more than two decades of experience in the game. A Class A PGA member and an accomplished professional golfer, he notched victories at the 2004 Georgia PGA Championship, the 2007 Georgia Open and the 2008 Georgia PGA Players Championships. Hull was named Georgia PGA Player of the Year in 2007, the same year he earned the Georgia PGA low stroke average award.
At South Carolina, Hull compiled a 73.68 stroke average over 82 rounds played from 1985-89. He placed 13th individually at the 1988 NCAA Championships to lead the Gamecocks to an eighth-place showing in the team field. That result still stands as the best in the program's history. South Carolina then finished 18th at the 1989 NCAAs during Hull's senior season.
Hull was named All-America in 1988, was tabbed first-team All-Metro Conference in 1989, and was selected as an All-American Scholar in both 1988 and 1989.
A native of Newark, Ohio, Hull earned his bachelor's degree in retail management from South Carolina in 1989. He is married to the former Ashley Harmstad of Columbia, S.C., and is the father of a son, Maclane.