June 5, 2007

Columbia, S.C. – Marci Kornegay, assistant women’s golf coach at South Carolina since 2004, is leaving the Gamecock program to take over as head coach at the University of South Florida, it was announced today.

Alongside South Carolina coach Kristi Coggins, Kornegay helped the Gamecocks to NCAA Regional Championship appearances in each of her three seasons in Columbia and served as the assistant coach in 2004-05 and 2005-06 when the Gamecocks were recognized as the NGCA’s All-Scholar Team of the Year for posting the highest combined grade point average in the nation. She was on the staff when Erica Battle was honored as the 2006 recipient of the Dinah Shore Trophy, which is presented to the top women’s golfer in the nation who combines success on the golf course with success in the classroom, service to the community and extraordinary leadership. Kornegay also developed Jenna Pearson into a 2007 all-Southeastern Conference selection.

“South Carolina has been a great home for me and I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Kristi Coggins and this team,” Kornegay said. “My goal is to be a head coach and this is a tremendous opportunity for me. I wish the Gamecocks the best of luck and want to thank Eric Hyman, Kristi Coggins, the golf team and the South Carolina golf community.”

Serving as South Carolina’s recruiting coordinator, Kornegay attracted Bénedicte Toumpsin, the top player in Belgium to South Carolina in 2006 and also successfully recruited Taylor Barrett, the top player in the state of South Carolina to join the Gamecock program in 2006.

“We are thrilled for Marci and the opportunity she is getting at South Florida,” Coggins said. “She will make a positive difference in any program that she is a part of. She certainly made a positive difference here and we will miss her.”