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University of Illinois Athletics

Craig Pessman / Illinois Athletics
Renee Slone Headshot

Renee Slone

  • Title
    Head Coach
  • Email
    rslone
  • Alma Mater
    Illinois '01

Coaching Experience

  • 2006-present, Head Coach, University of Illinois Women's Golf
  • 2005-06, Manager & Golf Professional, Sherwood Forest Golf Club, Brevard, N.C.
  • 2002-05, Asst. Golf Professional, Connestee Falls Country Club, Brevard, N.C.
  • 2001-02, Asst. Golf Professional/GM, Country Club of West Georgia, Villa Rica, Ga.
  • 2001, Asst. Coach, University of Illinois Women's Golf
  • 2000, Asst. Coach, Bradley University Men's and Women's Golf

Playing Experience

  • 1998-00 Futures Tour
  • 1995-97 LPGA Tour
  • 1993-94 Futures Tour
  • 1990-93 University of Illinois
  • NGCA and Golfweek National Player of the Year (1993)
  • Three-time All-American (1991, '92, '93)
  • Three-time NCAA Tournament Top-10 finisher (`91 - 3rd, `92 - t-4th, `93 - t-6th)
  • Two-time Big Ten Conference Player of the Year (1992, '93)
  • Two-time Big Ten Conference Individual Champion (1991, '93)
  • Three-time All-Big Ten (1991, '92, '93)
  • Two-time Academic All-Big Ten (1992, '93)
  • Two-time Illinois Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year (1991, '92)
  • UI Career Stroke Average Leader (75.35)
  • 1986-89 Metamora Township HS, Metamora, Ill.
  • Two-time IHSA Individual State Champion (198

Education

  • University of Illinois - B.S. Business Administration-Marketing

Personal

  • Maiden Name: Renee Heiken
  • Born: June 2, 1972
  • Hired: June 8, 2006
  • Family: Married Rick Slone in 2001

Former Fighting Illini great Renee Slone completed her 11th season as the University of Illinois head women’s golf coach in 2016-17.Slone was named the third women’s golf coach in school history on June 8, 2006.She replaced her former coach and mentor Paula Smith, who retired at the conclusion of the 2006 season after 28 years directing the UI golf program.Slone, formerly Renee Heiken, played for the Illini from 1990-93 and is the most decorated golfer in UI history.

The 2016-17 season rewrote many of the program’s records, highlighted by the best team scoring average in program history (296.21), a berth in the NCAA Albuquerque Regional, and the best team single-round score in program history (281, -7).The team recorded eight top-five finishes during the season, including four top-three finishes.Stephanie Miller finished her Illini career with the top career average in program history (75.32), besting the mark that had been held by Slone for nearly 25 years.Freshmen Swing Liu and Tristyn Nowlin became just the third and fourth Illini golfers to be named All-Big Ten as rookies.

The 2015-16 season generated great excitement for the years to follow, as Slone saw an Illini team that wouldn’t lose anyone to graduation.The team closed the season with four-consecutive top-five team finishes in addition to the best showing at the Big Ten Championship since the 1994-95 season.Freshman Bing Singhsumalee tied the school record for best 18-hole round at 6-under par in her debut round with the Illini.Singhsumalee went on to become just the second Illini named All-Big Ten following her first collegiate season.Slone oversaw the team post the lowest team season stroke average in school history at 296.79, a mark nearly three strokes better than the previous record.

During the 2014-15 season, Slone led the Fighting Illini crew to a Big Ten-best six “Golfer of the Week” accolades.The Illinois unit also rewrote a slew of individual and team records over the course of the season in Slone’s ninth season as head coach.Illinois won back-to-back tournament titles for the first time since the fall of 1993.

During the 2013-14 season, Slone welcomed new assistant coach Jenny Coluccio as a new era for Illinois golf was underway.In the fall, the Orange and Blue finished in the top-five in each of the five tournaments they competed in and rose as high as No.22 in the polls.The Illini missed out on the crown at the Minnesota Invitational by a single stroke but responded with a victory at the Diane Thomason Invitational followed by a second-place finish, this time at the Hoosier Invitational.In the spring, at the Lady Jaguar Intercollegiate, Samantha Postillion battled to a career best second place finish.Illinois tied its highest finish in the past 19 seasons with a fifth place outing at the Big Ten Championships.Both Stephanie Miller and Ember Schuldt competed at the NCAA Central Regional where they finished T-51st and T-66th respectively.

In 2012-13, Coach Slone helped develop rookie Samantha Postillion into a contender while guiding the experienced junior Ember Schuldt to a good year.Illinois’ season was highlighted by a third-place finish at the Wolverine Invitational, in which Schuldt and Michelle Mayer finished in the top 10, and the fifth-straight victory over Illinois State at the Illinois Challenge in February.

In 2011-12, Illinois earned a berth to regionals for the second year in a row and fourth time in school history, tying for 14th at the NCAA West Regional.The Illini placed fifth at the Big Ten Championships, which was the program’s best finish since 2002 and top showing at the conference tournament under Slone.The Orange and Blue won a team title to start off the spring and recorded eight top-five team finishes.The Illini also twice set the team school record for a 54-hole tournament and turned in the top two individual tournament and team single round performances in school history.

The 2010-11 season was full of milestones.The Illini advanced to the NCAA Regional Championship for the third time in program history, as well as set new team records at the time.At the first tournament of the season, the Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic, Illinois set the then-lowest team round in school history, carding a three-under 285.Later in the fall, the Illini shot a one-over 281 during the Challenge at Onion Creek, the seventh lowest team round in school history.

In 2009-10, Illinois won its first tournament since the 2007-08 season at the UC Spring Invitational, shooting the sixth lowest 54-hole tournament total (893) in the program’s history.At the Big Ten Championships, the Illini made program history finishing the 72-hole tournament with a total of 1230, the lowest score to date.Not only did Slone coach Illinois to record breaking team finishes, but each individual golfer posted or tied her career low round and experienced her career low 54-hole tournament total during the 2009-10 season.

In the 2008-09 season, the Illini boasted the ninth-lowest season scoring average in school history with a youthful lineup, including seven freshmen, one sophomore and one senior.The team made history at the season-opening tournament, sending five freshmen to the event for the first time in the program’s history.

During the 2007-08 season, Slone coached the Illini to two tournament victories at the Gainesville Shootout III and the Illini Spring Classic as well as a second consecutive runner-up finish at the Shootout at the Legends.The Orange and Blue had a stretch of six straight top-five finishes during the year and posted  the fifth-best season scoring average in school history.The Illini also matched the ninth-lowest team round (291) at the 2008 Samford Intercollegiate and the team’s tournament total of 898 at the 2008 Indiana Invitational ranks eighth in school history for a 54-hole tournament.

In 2006-07 the lady golfers finished third at the Indiana Invitational and notched the school’s sixth-lowest 72-hole tournament total at the 2007 Big Ten Championships with a 1255.

Illinois quickly made strides in Slone’s first year.In the fall of 2006, the Fighting Illini shattered the 54-hole school record by firing a cumulative total of 890 at the Shootout at the Legends to finish second overall.Additionally, the Orange and Blue’s final-round total of 292 was just one shot off the single-round school record at the time.

To add to the excitement around the golf program, the Illinois athletic department opened the 16,000-square foot Demirjian Golf Practice Facility back in January 2007.The facility features large chipping and putting areas, heated hitting bays that open onto an outdoor practice area and full locker rooms, complete with a lounge and study areas for the players.

“The Demirjian Facility is an incredible practice venue for our team,” Slone said.“The building has been a tremendous asset for both the men’s and women’s golf programs and has played a key role as we continue to move the program to new heights.” 

As a player, Slone had an unparalleled career while donning the Orange and Blue.During her senior season in 1993, she averaged a school-record 74.33 strokes per round, claimed a school-record eight medalist titles - including the Big Ten Championship - and was named the 1993 National College Player of the Year by both the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) and Golfweek Magazine.Throughout her career she was a three-time All-American, claiming three straight top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships (1991 - 3rd, 1992 - t-4th, 1993 - t-6th).She also was a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year (1992, `93), two-time Big Ten Championship Medalist (1991, `93) and two-time UI Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year (1991, `92).

Slone was Illinois’ career-stroke average leader for nearly 25 years with an average of 75.53.In addition, she holds two of the top 10 single-round scores, two of the top 10 54-hole scores and the top three 72-hole scores.

Slone also earned notoriety when she tied the LPGA 9-hole record of 28 at the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic.After her stellar Illini career, Slone continued playing as a member of the LPGA Tour from 1995-97 and also spent time on the Futures Tour and Ladies Asian Tour.

Following her playing career, Slone moved into coaching as assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s golf teams at Bradley University during the 1999-2000 season.The following season, she returned to the University of Illinois and served as an assistant coach under Smith during the spring of 2001 while finishing her bachelor’s degree in business administration-marketing.In addition to customary assistant coach duties, Slone was designated as the team’s head coach for two tournaments, the Illini Spring Classic and the Big Ten Championships.

Since that one-year stint as an assistant at Illinois, Slone served as an Assistant Golf Professional at two different courses in the south.She has served as the manager and golf professional at Sherwood Forest Golf Club in Brevard, N.C.Prior to that, she was an Assistant Professional at Connestee Falls Country Club in Brevard, N.C., where she established a “Clubs in the Classroom” campaign introducing hundreds of young children to the game of golf.She also was responsible for clinic development and instruction, in addition to helping with all daily golf operations and personnel.

A native of Metamora, Ill., Slone had an outstanding junior career before coming to Illinois, finding success at the area, state and national levels.She won an unprecedented four consecutive Peoria Women’s City Titles (1987-90), was a two-time IHSA Individual State Champion (1987, `89), and was a three-time American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) All-American.

In 2004, Slone was inducted into both the National Golf Coaches Association (Now WGCA) Players Hall of Fame and the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame.

Slone is an inaugural member of the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.