ASHLAND, Va. --- Randolph-Macon Athletic Director Jeff Burns announced Thursday that Jill Briles-Hinton has been selected to lead the Randolph-Macon Women's Golf program. Briles-Hinton touts more than 15 years of collegiate coaching experience at the University of Richmond and the University of Florida, as well as spending 12 years on the LPGA Tour.
"I'm honored to be the next women's golf coach at Randolph Macon College," Briles-Hinton said. "Since living in the Richmond area, I have been able to enhance my skills as a golf instructor and junior golf specialist while serving as Director of Junior Golf at the Windy Hill Golf Academy. I am looking forward to applying these skills with my LPGA Tour experiences and Division I coaching knowledge to help take the Randolph Macon Women's Golf program to the next level. I am looking forward to meeting my new team, grow in the community, and give back to a sport that has given me so much."
"We have been fortunate at Randolph-Macon College to continue adding talented professionals to our coaching staff," Burns said. "I believe that Coach Briles-Hinton's previous coaching experience, connections, passion for education, player development and competition will be just what our golf team needs as we strive to be one of the best golfing programs in NCAA DIII golf."
Briles-Hinton comes to Randolph-Macon after most recently coaching collegiately at the University of Richmond for three seasons. While there, Briles-Hinton worked to improve golfers' games while also maintaining rigorous academic standards.
Before Richmond, Briles-Hinton led the University of Florida Gators to five Top Ten finishes in six appearances at the NCAA Championship between 1998 and 2009. In 2008, she earned the Southeastern Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year title after leading Florida to the SEC Championship and the NCAA East Regional Championship. Between 1999 and 2009, Florida made ten straight NCAA Regional appearances under Briles-Hinton's lead.
While on the LPGA Tour, Briles-Hinton served as a member of the Board of Directors from 1988-1990 and was responsible for leading the Junior Golf program for more than a decade. For her service with Junior Golf, she was awarded the inaugural Budget Service Award in 1991.
In 1994, she was named by her peers as the recipient of the William and Mousie Powell Award, which honors a player on the Tour who most represents the spirit, ideas and values of the LPGA.
On the course, Briles-Hinton posted six Top Ten finishes, included three second place finishes. She shot a career low of 66 twice; in the 1995 U.S. Women's Open and the 1990 MBS Classic.
Briles-Hinton currently serves as a golf instructor and the Director of Junior Golf at the Windy Hill Sports Complex in Midlothian, Virginia. She is also an entrepreneur, founding JBH Golf Embroidery in 2016 and since operating the successful business.
The Peoria, Illinois native earned her Bachelor of Science Education degree from the University of Miami in 1986. While at Miami, she played varsity golf for two years, earning a seventh place individual finish at the 1986 NCAA Championship while helping the Hurricanes finish second at the same championship. In 1986, she was honored for her work in the classroom, garnering NCAA Academic All-American accolades.
Briles-Hinton added a Master of Science degree in Sports Management in 2006 from Nova Southeastern University, where she maintained and graduated with a perfect GPA. She is a member of the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame -- one of just eight golfers and only four golf coaches to be inducted by the organization.
Briles-Hinton remains a member of the LPGA Tour, certified as a "Class A" member. She currently lives in Midlothian.
--- This release is courtesy of the Randolph-Macon College sports information department. ---
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