CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois women's golf head coach, Renee Slone, announced the addition of Pina Gentile to her staff. Gentile spent the previous three seasons as the head women's golf coach at Eastern Michigan University (EMU).
"I am very excited to welcome Pina to the Illini family," said Slone. "The wealth of experience and knowledge she brings to our program will be a tremendous asset to our student-athletes. She will be an incredible resource for our team members in so many ways. I am looking forward to working with Pina as we continue to propel the program forward."
With nearly 18 years of NCAA Division I intercollegiate coaching experience, Gentile spent the last three years working at EMU where she led her teams to 20 top-10 tournament showings, including her first career tournament win at the 2016 Kalamazoo Classic and another victory at the 15th Annual Rio Verde Invitational. During her first year, Gentile led the Eagles to a historical season by posting the lowest 18-hole average in program history. Gentile coached 12 WGCA All-American Scholars and 11 Academic All-MAC team honorees.
Prior to her time at EMU, Gentile spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at Iowa State University before being promoted to associate head coach in June 2015. She aided the Cyclones to six-straight NCAA Regional appearances, while recording their best finishes in the Big 12 Championships during her reign. In 2014, the Cyclones advanced to their first-ever NCAA Championship appearance. Gentile coached 10 Cyclones to All-Big 12 recognition 15 times during her tenure. Academically, she also coached 12 golfers who earned Academic All Big 12 accolades 21 times.
"I am excited to join the Illini family," said Gentile. "I would like to thank Renee Slone and the search committee for providing a wonderful opportunity to be part of a highly respected and successful women's golf program. I look forward to working with Renee to build upon the strong foundation that has been established at Illinois, while helping our student-athletes achieve their goals."
Before arriving in Ames, Gentile began her coaching career at Illinois State where she spent three years as a volunteer assistant coach before being promoted to an assistant coach in 2005 with both the men's and women's golf teams. Gentile helped guide the Redbirds to three Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles with men's golf earning two (2005, 2007) and women's golf earning one (2005).
In 2000, the Redbirds graduate earned her Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Teaching and Club Professional Division card and is a Class A member. She also worked as an assistant golf professional at Crestwicke Country Club in Bloomington, Ill. and Edgewood Valley Country Club in LaGrange, Ill.
Gentile earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Illinois State University in 1999 before furthering her education with a master's degree in clinical-counseling psychology. As a student-athlete at Illinois State, she was a four year letterwinner on the golf team. Gentile helped lead the Redbirds to a Missouri Valley Conference Championship during the 1997 campaign. In the classroom, she was a member of the AFNI Honor Roll and the NGCA All-American Scholar Team.
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