Lisa Strom Accepts Head Coaching Position at Ohio State
7/2/2021 12:02:00 PM | Women's Golf
KENT, Ohio – After two seasons leading the Kent State University women's golf team, head coach Lisa Strom has accepted the same position at her alma mater, Ohio State.
Strom led the Golden Flashes to nine tournaments victories, including the program's 22nd consecutive Mid-American Conference title this past season. Kent State finished 17th at the 2021 NCAA Championships and senior Chloe Salort advanced individually to the final round of stroke play. She was named a 2020-21 Division I Jackie Steinmann WGCA National Coach of the Year finalist.
"We are incredibly grateful for the passion and commitment Coach Strom has showed in her time at Kent State," Director of Athletics Randale L. Richmond shared. "She has continued to grow a nationally renowned program and ensured Kent State women's golf remained at an elite level."
The Flashes enjoyed a historic 2019-20 season prior to its cancelation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Strom's team was victorious in each of her first three tournaments at the helm and won five of seven events overall. Kent State set program records for scoring average (283.00), average vs. par (-3.86) and finish percentage (.940). The Flashes climbed as high as No. 3 in the national rankings, the highest in the history of the program, and Caley McGinty was the national leader in final round scoring average.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to lead the Kent State women's golf program. Kent State is a special place, and the program is a national contender because of the student-athletes who believe in the vision of what Kent State can accomplish. To the staff, administrators, and fans of the program, thank you. Thank you to Randale Richmond, Trent Stratton, and the entire Flash Family for supporting my decision to return to my alma mater. I'm confident the program will continue to excel for years to come," said Strom.
Strom mentored Flashes golfers to five WGCA All-American honors, which included a program record three selections for the 2019-20 season. She was named MAC Coach of the Year this past season after leading the Flashes to a 36-stroke victory at the conference tournament.
The women's golf program also achieved milestones in the classroom during Strom's tenure. The Flashes posted the three highest term GPAs in program history over the past three semesters, including a record 3.738 last fall. Kent State also had four members of the 2019-2020 WGCA All-American Scholar Team.
Prior to being named Kent State's third women's golf head coach, Strom was the head coach at Texas State for three seasons. The Bobcats posted several program records during the 2018-19 season, including scoring average, average vs. par and lowest round score. Strom led Texas State to two team tournament titles and a runner-up finish at the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Championships. She previously served as an assistant coach at Ohio State for five-and-a-half- seasons, helping guide the Buckeyes to six straight NCAA Regional appearances and four showings at the NCAA Championships.
Following a standout four-year playing career at Ohio State, Strom competed in more than 50 LPGA sponsored events as a member of the LPGA Tour.
"We're proud of Lisa and support her desire to return to her alma mater and wish her nothing but the best moving forward. I really enjoyed getting to know the person she is in our short time together," exclaimed Richmond. "Our focus now will be identifying the next dynamic leader of Kent State women's golf as this remains a very attractive job coaching and developing top-tier student-athletes."
A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
