Former two-time captain of the Illinois State womens golf team Pina Gentile is returning to the program as assistant coach. Head coach
Ray Kralis announced Tuesday that Gentile will be his assistant coach while he leads both the mens and womens programs.
Gentle, a co-captain of Illinois States 1997 Missouri Valley Conference Championship team, looks forward to more conference championships as a coach.
This is such a great opportunity for me and the team to expand on the growth Ray has already started, Gentile said. It is amazing to see the growth within the womens program under Rays guidance, and now I am afforded the opportunity to aid in that growth.
Kralis set high standards in his search for an assistant coach and Gentile more than met them.
I was looking to be blown away, and I was with Pina, Kralis said. It is an honor for Illinois State to have Pina , we share a vision for this program and for the future and she will be a strong asset for our success.
Kralis stressed the advantages of returning to your alma mater to coach.
Being a former Redbird golfer myself, I know the advantages of being tied into Redbird Athletics, Kralis said. Her background as a former Redbird, a golf professional and her study of psychology combine to make a great coach. Golf is both a physical and mental game and you must be strong in both areas and Pina will help prepare our golfers to perform at their peak.
At Illinois State the Orland Park native excelled on the golf course as well as in the classroom graduating with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Gentile was a member of the AFNI Honor Roll from 1995-1999, as well as a member of the 1998-1999 NGCA All-American Scholar Team. Gentile has not spent much time away from Illinois State as she was a volunteer assistant to the womens golf team from 2001-2004 while completing her Master of Science in Psychology.
It means a lot to me personally to still be connected with the program, and to have the opportunity to coach at my school, Gentile said. I had the ability to stay connected with the program as I completed my masters degree in psychology here at Illinois State. I feel that this continuing connection to Illinois State will be the key to my success and the future success of our program.
A Class B member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association since March of 2003, Gentile was also tabbed as Illinois States Helen Cushman Endowment Scholarship Recipient in 1997-1998.
Transaction: Illinois State - Hired Pina Gentile as Assistant Golf Coach for Redbird Golf
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