In every stage of her head coaching career, Illinois State women’s golf head coach Darby Sligh has demonstrated the ability to produce championship-caliber success in a short period of time. Sligh is entering her 11th year leading the Redbirds, having won five Missouri Valley Conference championships, along with five automatic berths into NCAA Regionals in her tenure and four-consecutive MVC Coach of the Year awards (2008-11).
The 2016-17 season was strong, both on and off the course. For the fifth-consecutive semester, the team ranked as the top women's team at Illinois State, producing a a 3.85 GPA in the spring and a 3.70 mark in the fall, while every member was named to the AFNI Honor Roll. Also, for the second year in a row, Maggie Ambrose, Abby Luchtenburg, Caitlin Sims, Renne Solberg and Kiley Walsh were named Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholars, while Paige Seiser was also named one for the first time. Walsh also finished fourth at the MVC Championship to earn All-MVC honors along with First-Team MVC All-Scholar-Athlete for the second-consecutive season.
The 2015-16 season was one for the record books in the classroom. The squad shattered departmental grade-point average records in the fall with a 3.91 and followed it up in the spring with a 3.82. This combined cumulative GPA of 3.86 earned the Redbird women’s golf team the top Division I GPA and second in the nation across all three NCAA divisions as recognized by the WGCA. On the golf course, Walsh earned All-MVC honors along with First-Team MVC All-Scholar Athlete accolades. Five were named WGCA All-Scholars: Ambrose, Luchtenburg, Sims, Solberg and Walsh.
The 2014-15 season started off with a bang, as Brianna Cooper and the Redbirds captured both the individual and team titles at the Redbird Invitational. Hayley Guyton and Lauren English were both named MVC All-Scholars. The team finished fourth at the MVC Championship, just two shots out of third place. Two Redbirds were in the top 10, as Brianna Cooper finished third and Walsh in a seventh-place tie. Cooper took home All-MVC honors, and Guyton and Walsh were named WGCA All-Scholars.
The 2013-14 season concluded with a third-place finish in the MVC Tournament at Panther Creek by a narrow margin of six shots separating the winner. Senior Rachel Powers earned her first All-MVC honor of her career, and Guyton earned WGCA Academic All-Scholar honors for the second year in a row.
During the 2012-13 season, Sligh coached a seasoned Redbird team to a Missouri Valley Conference championship and an appearance in the 2013 NCAA Central Regional. The squad, led by then-senior Katie Jean, who earned individual medalist honors for the second-straight season, captured the MVC title after an exceptional season. Jean was also named MVC Golfer of the Year and had an unprecedented five MVC Golfer of the Week honors and earned her third-straight MVC Elite18 award. Jean and Guyton were named WGCA All-American Scholars.
As the 2011-12 season progressed, Sligh received great play from her squad, as Jean and Cooper, who were both named to the All-MVC team, led the Redbirds to a second-place finish at the MVC Championship. Jean played her best golf of the season and was able to secure individual medalist honors, becoming the third Redbird medalist in four years.
After an impressive start to the 2010-11 season, capturing a win at the season home opener Redbird Invitational, the Redbirds began to falter in the rankings and had their share of mid-season struggles. Sligh was able to coach the young team to their fourth-consecutive MVC Championship title and was named MVC Coach of the Year for the fourth-straight year, adding two more all-conference student-athletes to her sterling record as well, with Cooper and Terra Miller receiving the honors. Cooper also earned MVC medalist honors in her rookie season with the Redbirds. This fourth-consecutive team conference championship broke the previous MVC record held by Tulsa (1994-96). The Redbirds also had the honor of representing the MVC in the 2011 NCAA Central Regional.
The 2009-10 season was another great success for Sligh, as well as the women's golf team. Sligh was awarded her third MVC Coach of the Year honor, as the Redbirds placed in the top 10 in nine of the 10 events they participated in, along with four top-five finishes. Sligh led ISU to the title at the MVC Championship, where Laura Harris, Stacey Miller and Marisa Milligan came in second, third and fourth place, respectively. Four of the five players that competed in the conference tournament were named to the All-MVC team. Miller was also awarded the prestigious Charlotte West award through the MVC as a testament to her academic and athletic excellence as well as her service and leadership.
Throughout the 2008-09 season, Sligh's dedication, passion and love for the game led her to be named the MVC Coach of the Year and produce three All-MVC selections. The Redbirds won the 2009 MVC Championship, where Miller captured the individual title. Sligh led the team to its second-consecutive postseason appearance in the NCAA Central Regional. Sligh's commitment to success for her players was evident when the team achieved a then record team GPA of 3.58, had two players named First Team All-MVC Scholar-Athlete, nine student-athletes on the AFNI Athletics Honor Roll and three National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Academic All-Scholars.
The 2007-08 season made for an impressive first year at Illinois State for Sligh. She led the youthful Redbirds to a MVC championship and an appearance in the NCAA Central Regional at the University of Texas Golf Club in Austin, Texas. Sligh was named MVC Coach of the Year and had two players named to the All-MVC team. Milligan was named All-MVC and MVC Newcomer of the Year, while Miller was named First Team All-MVC Scholar-Athlete and All-MVC. Sligh also had five players named to the MVC Honor Roll and four NGCA Academic All-Scholars.
Sligh is no stranger to successful seasons as a head coach. After graduating from Alabama, Sligh was named women’s golf head coach at Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina. In just two years at the helm, Sligh was able to produce a 2007 South Atlantic Conference championship, win league coach of the year honors (2007) and have six players named to the All-SAC team.
Sligh had an impressive list of collegiate honors and athletic achievements as a student-athlete at Alabama. She was named Second Team All-Southeastern Conference following the 2003-04 season, and from 2002-04, Sligh was Academic All-SEC. In 2004, she was named the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Sligh was the Crimson Tide's co-captain from 2002-05. During her collegiate career, Sligh had nine top-10 finishes, including two wins.
