Last Thursday, former Illinois women’s golfer Renee Slone was named the third Fighting Illini women’s golf coach by Illinois Athletic Director Ron Guenther.

Slone replaces long time head coach Paula Smith, who retired at the end of this past season to finish her 28-year career as head coach of the women’s golf team.

“I am very pleased that Renee has accepted the position as women’s golf coach at Illinois,” Guenther said last week in a press release. “She was a terrific athlete while attending Illinois as well as an excellent student. Renee has always been an outstanding representative for the University of Illinois.”

From 1990-1993 Slone, formerly Renee Heiken, led the Illinois women’s golf team in nearly every category possible on her way to becoming the most decorated women’s golfer in Fighting Illini history.

Originally from Metamora, Ill., Slone experienced a handful of success at the junior level before attending Illinois. She won four straight Peoria Women’s City Titles from 1987-1990, and was a two-time IHSA Class AA Individual State Champion in 1987 and ’89.

Slone averaged a school-record 74.33 strokes per round during her career at Illinois and claimed a school-record eight medalist titles – including the Big Ten Championship.

Slone was also named the 1993 National College Player of the Year by both the National Golf Coaches Association and Golfweek Magazine. Slone earned many accolades in her career and was a three-time All-American, a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year in 1992-93, and two-time Illinois Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year in 1991-92.

“Renee grew up in the state,” Guenther said in the press release. “She is very familiar with the junior tournaments around the state of Illinois and the region, and had a strong career as a collegian.”

After Slone graduated in 1993 she continued playing as a part of the LPGA Tour from 1995-97.

She then became an assistant coach for Bradley University’s men’s and women’s golf teams.

In the spring of 2001 Slone returned to Illinois and served as an assistant coach under Smith while finishing her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration-Marketing.

Slone was inducted into both the National Golf Coaches Association Players Hall of Fame and the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

“I’m looking forward to returning to campus and building upon the foundation established by Coach Smith,” Slone said in the press release.

“The University of Illinois was a very special place for me as a student-athlete. I can’t wait to come back to develop the current student-athletes and assist in preparing them for life after college.”