Staff

Jan Mann

Jan Mann, a well-respected individual in collegiate women’s golf, is in her ninth year as head women’s golf coach at the University of North Carolina. Mann, a proven and experienced head coach, became the fifth head coach in Carolina history and took over the program July 2009.

In Mann’s first seven years at the helm, the Tar Heels won six team championships and four individual championships. In 2010-11, Carolina won the Cougar Classic and the ACC Championship while in 2012-13, the Tar Heels won the Liz Murphey Fall Preview, the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational and the UCF Challenge. Two of the individual titles came in 2012 when Catherine O’Donnell won the 2012 LSU Golf Classic and the 2012 NCAA West Regional while Elizabeth Mallett won the 2014 SMU/Dallas Athletic Club Invitational. In 2016, Carolina won the Cougar Classic led by Kelly Whaley, who was in the individual medalist of the tournament.

Mann has already guided the Tar Heels to four NCAA Championship appearances and the program’s second ACC title, and first since 1992, in her tenure. During the 2016-17 season, The Tar Heels made their 16th all-time NCAA Championship appearance, finishing ninth after completing an 11-shot comeback in the NCAA Athens Regional where they finished sixth. Carolina finished fourth at the 2017 ACC Championship.

In 2016, Carolina finished fourth at the ACC Championships, fourth at the NCAA Stanford Regional and 14th at the NCAA Championships. During the 2014-15 season Carolina finished third at the ACC Championships and 14th in the NCAA Notre Dame Regional. In 2014, Carolina carded a fourth-place finish at the ACC Championships and finished 14th at the NCAA Central Regional. During the 2012-13 season, the Tar Heels finished 10th at the NCAA East Regional and posted five top-five finishes. In 2012, Carolina finished 10th at the NCAA Championships and carded seven top-five finishes. In 2011, after winning the ACC Championship by a dominating 24 strokes, Carolina went on to a runner-up finish at the NCAA East Regional before tying for eighth at the NCAA Championships. Carolina also won the first tournament of the year, the Cougar Classic, and was the runner-up at The Landfall Tradition. In 2010, Carolina earned a bid to the NCAA East Regional where they finished 13th.

Mann was crowned the 2011 ACC Coach of the Year, the second time she has received that honor. She was also selected the 2005 ACC Coach of the Year when she was the head coach at Virginia.

The Carolina record book is already full of Tar Heel performances under Mann’s leadership, including new school records for team round (278), team round vs. par (-10), 54-hole team tournament score (838), 54-hole team tournament score vs. par (-26), individual 54-hole tournament score (205) and individual 54-hole tournament score vs. par (-11). Carolina tied or set new school records in four categories (team round, round vs. par, tournament score and tournament score vs. par) at the 2016 Cougar Classic, with Kelly Whaley setting or tying school records in round, round vs. par, tournament score and tournament score vs. par.

Mann was the first head coach at the University of Virginia from 2002-2007, establishing the inaugural women’s golf program there, with 2003-04 being its first year of competition. Mann’s teams participated in the NCAA Regionals in 2005, 2006 and 2007 advancing on to the NCAA Championships in 2005 and advancing an individual in 2006. Mann’s teams received 20 ACC academic honors and the Cavaliers were presented the ACC Sportsmanship Award in 2006.
Mann has coached All-America Leah Wigger, who was selected to the team two times, and her players have received Women’s Golf Coaches Association’s (WGCA) All-America Scholar honors 27 times (11 at UNC). Her players were selected to the All-ACC team 15 times (nine at UNC) and to the All-ACC Academic Women’s Golf Team 38 times (18 at UNC).

Mann served as the head women’s golf coach at UNC Wilmington from 1994-2002, taking the Seahawks to the NCAA Regionals for the first time in school history in 1998. Her players received WGCA Academic All-America awards nine times. The Seahawks were crowned the 2002 Big South Conference Champions and one of her players, Rebecca Dean, was selected the 2002 Big South Conference Player of the Year. Mann was chosen the 2002 Big South Coach of the Year and her 2001 team received the UNCW Leadership Award for performance in the classroom, community and playing field. UNC Wilmington also served as host of the 1995 NCAA Championship as well as the 1994 NCAA Preview Tournament.

Mann has also served on several NCAA committees. From 2000-04 she was an NCAA Regional Advisory Committee member and NCAA Division I Golf Committee Member, on which she served as chair in 2003-04. Mann was selected to coach the 2003 United States team during the U.S.-Japan Matches. She was on the NGCA Board of Directors, 2005-07; on the LPGA Coaches Advisory Committee, 2003-07 and on the USGA Intercollegiate Relations Committee, 2003-05. In 2000 and 2001 she was chosen one of Golf Digest’s Top Teachers in North Carolina.

Mann, a graduate of UNC Wilmington, was an accomplished golf professional and teacher before entering the coaching profession. Mann was Director of Pinehurst Golf School and Teaching Center, 1992-1994; a teaching professional at John Jacobs Golf Schools in Point Clear, Ala., 1991; Assistant Golf Professional at Echo Farms Country Club in Wilmington, 1985-91; and Assistant Golf Professional at The Cape Golf and Racquet Club in Wilmington, 1984-1985.
Mann is the fifth women’s golf coach in school history. Jean Eller was head coach during the team’s first year of varsity status. Dr. Pam Robinson was Carolina’s second coach in 1974. Dot Gunnells was Carolina’s third head coach, serving as coach for 18 years, from 1975-76 through the 1992-93 season. Sally Austin then took over the Tar Heel reins and coached for 16 years, from 1993-94 through 2008-09.

Mann and her husband, John, have one daughter, Lindsay Badour of Wilmington, N.C., and two sons, John Mann of Cary, N.C., and Robb Mann of Wilmington, N.C.

Kim Lewellen

Three-time ACC Coach of the Year Kim Lewellen is in her first season leading the Wake Forest women's golf program in 2018-19.

Kristen Simpson

Hired by Coach Jan Mann in July, Kristen Simpson begins her first season as the associate head coach of the North Carolina women’s golf team in 2018-19. Simpson returns to the Atlantic Coast Conference after a successful collegiate career at Virginia, playing for Coach Mann.

Cindy Ho

Cindy Ho is in her 16th season as the head coach at UNCW and her 26th overall in the collegiate ranks. She has guided her teams to seven NCAA appearances.

Kelley Hester

Kelley is in her 2nd year as the head coach at Clemson and her 17th overall in the collegiate ranks. She has taken four different teams to the NCAA National Championships.