Cannon Selected For Hall Of Fame

Jan. 22, 2002

Coral Gables, FL (hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami head women’s golf coach Lela Cannon has been selected for induction into the National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Cannon will be formally inducted at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Wednesday, January 23 at the Sheridan World Resort in Orlando, FL.

“This is a very special moment for me,” said Cannon. “Of all the honors I have won this is the most special because it is voted on by other coaches. To be honored by one’s peers in this manner is very touching.”

Cannon, entering her 19th season, has led the Hurricanes to 15 NCAA Tournament berths, six NCAA top-10 finishes and the 1984 National Championship. She has coached eight NCAA All-Americans including Tracy Kerdyk, the 1988 NCAA Player of the Year, and sent eight players onto the LPGA tour.

Cannon’s student-athletes have been just as successful in the classroom. In 1986, Jill Briles became the first Academic All-American in women’s golf at UM. Joye McAvoy earned Academic All-America honors in 1988, and Shannon Hammel became the first Hurricane to earn Academic All-American honors two consecutive seasons in 1991 and 1992. Shayne Wild would better Hammel’s mark being named to the Academic All-America team in three consecutive seasons (1997, 1998, 1999).

Cannon, a two-time South Region Coach of the Year, was featured in the book, Celebrating Women’s Coaches, A Biographical Dictionary. The book, which was released in 2001, profiles 42 of the world’s top female coaches.