LEXINGTON, Va. --- Washington and Lee Michael F. Walsh Director of Athletics Jan Hathorn has announced the hiring of Jane Hopkinson-Wood as the Head Coach of Women's Golf and Assistant Professor of Physical Education.

Hopkinson-Wood, who just led her squad to a 10th place finish at the NCAA DIII Women's Golf Championships, comes to Lexington after having served as the head women's golf coach at Centre College since January 2019. 

The Wittenberg University 2018 graduate was named the Southern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year the last three seasons; under her tutelage, 11 Colonels were named all-conference golfers including a pair of Newcomer of the Year and Player of the Year award winners. Centre claimed the SAA Championships team title every year under Hopkinson-Wood's three complete seasons at the helm of the Colonels.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jane to the W&L," stated Hathorn. "Her demonstrated success, as a coach and player, at the highest levels of DIII, as well as her understanding of the importance of academics for our student-athletes, are just a few reasons why Jane is the best choice for W&L's women's golfers and the future of our women's golf program."

On the national level, the Colonels made three straight appearances in the NCAA tournament. Her squads survived the third round cuts on each occasion and recorded 6th, 10th and 11th place finishes. Hopkinson-Wood helped elevate Centre's national rankings from outside GolfStat Top-25 in 2019 to a No. 12 finish in the most-recent release on May 10. 

"I am excited and honored to serve as the next head women's golf coach at Washington and Lee," Hopkinson-Wood said. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics Jan Hathorn, Dean Kimber, along with the entire search committee for giving me this incredible opportunity to lead this program. With the strong foundation that is present here, the potential is limitless."

Prior to her work at Centre, Hopkinson-Wood was a four-year standout at Wittenberg University and the only four-time All-American in program history. She capped her senior campaign off with a third-place finish at the 2018 NCAA Championships. 

She won 15 tournaments over the course of her career with the Tigers which includes a pair of North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament wins and won NCAC Player of the year each year, was voted NCAC Newcomer of the Year as a rookie. As a team, Wittenberg finished in third place at the 2016 and 2017 NCAA Championships and were runner-ups in 2015 with Hopkinson-Wood at the head of the pack for the Tigers. 

Hathorn added, "Her grasp of the DIII model, of being a member of the greater whole, will make her a great addition to our department and campus community. I look forward to serving beside Jane for many years to come." 

The Pottstown, Pa. native will take over the Generals fresh off the programs' 2023 ODAC Championship and 9th place finish at the NCAA Championships. 

Hopkinson-Wood continued, "I'm looking forward to building on the success the team has experienced over recent years, and I'm very excited to see how far we can go. My goal is to create an elite environment in our pursuit to be the best version of ourselves. We will grow every day on the course, in the classroom, and within the community."

Hopkinson-Wood, the third full-time coach in program history, will begin her Washington and Lee duties in June.