Miami Women's Golf Coach Cannon to Retire at Season's End
Nov. 7, 2009
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head women’s golf coach Lela Cannon will retire at the end of the 2009-10 season the university announced Friday. Cannon is in her 27th season as the head coach of the Hurricanes’ women’s golf team.
“I really have enjoyed my time at the university,” Cannon said. “I’ve had the honor of coaching some of the best student-athletes in the sport of golf. The University of Miami has been my home for the last 27 years, and I will continue to support the Hurricanes. I’m going to miss my golfers most of all. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish as a program.”
Cannon was named the head women’s golf coach at the University of Miami in the fall of 1983. The following spring, Cannon guided her first Hurricane squad to the national championship in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
During her tenure, she has led the Hurricanes to one national championship, five state championships and 16 NCAA tournament appearances, while guiding her players to numerous Academic All-America honors as well as future careers on the LPGA tour. In all, she coached a combined 11 All-Americans and seven Academic All-Americans.
“Coach Cannon has been an integral part of the University of Miami Department of Athletics for some time,” UM Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said. “She has made significant contributions to our department, but more importantly has been a mentor and coach to the hundreds of young women who have played the game for her. We thank her for all she has done for those of us who have known her and wish her nothing but the best.”
Cannon was a two-time Southeastern Region Coach of the Year (1984, 1992). Following the 1984 NCAA championship season, she signed local standout Tracy Kerdyk, who went on to win an unprecedented 11 career tournaments, earned first-team All-American honors twice and was the nation’s 1987-88 Player of the Year.
In 1986, in what Cannon labeled a rebuilding season, Miami shocked the collegiate world by storming to a second-place finish at the NCAAs. Cannon molded some of the best players in collegiate golf including All-Americans Mary Dunne (Lauderdale By The Sea, Fla.) in 1991, Kim Augusta (Runford, R.I.) in 1992 and Julie Brand (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) in both 1993 and 1994.
In 1986, Jill Briles became Miami’s first Academic All-American in women’s golf. Joye McAvoy was named to the Academic All-America and Honorable Mention All-America lists in 1988. Shannon Hamel was Miami’s first two-time Academic All-American in women’s golf, earning honors in 1991 and 1992. In 1997, 1998 and 1999, Shayne Wild became Miami’s first three-time Academic All-American.
In the fall of 2001, Cannon was featured in the book, Celebrating Women Coaches, A Biographical Dictionary. The book, which was written by Nena Rey Hawkes and John F. Seggar, profiles 42 of the world’s top female coaches.
On January 23, 2002, Cannon was inducted into the National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Prior to coming to Miami, Cannon was a member of the Connecticut State Golf Association – an organization which requires a player to have a 16 handicap or less for membership.
In 2005, the Hurricanes qualified for the NCAA East Regional Championship marking the 18th time since 1982 that Miami advanced to post-season competition. In 2002 and 2003, Cannon guided Camilla Hilland and Tina Miller to at-large berths to the NCAA Regional Championships. Hilland won the state championship in 2002, en route to receiving an NCAA Regional bid. In 2003, Miller earned an at-large berth following her victory at the inaugural Women’s BIG EAST Golf Championship.
Miami’s academic excellence continued in 2006 as Josie Shinn was named to the Academic All-ACC Golf team, as well as an All-American Scholar by the National Golf Coaches Association. In 2007, Jessica Steward followed Shinn’s lead, earning a spot on the Academic All-ACC Team. In 2008 and 2009, Maria Ronderos made Academic All-ACC Teams.
Cannon has been instrumental in the collegiate and LPGA careers of Penny Hammel (1983 NCAA Champion, All-American in 1983 and 1984 and LPGA Rookie of the Year in 1985), Michelle Berteotti (All-American, 1984) and Kerdyk.
She has also coached LPGA tour members Jill Briles-Hinton, Gina Hull and Donna Casano-Williams whom she signed in 1989. With a lifetime association with golf, Cannon represented the United States as the head coach of the US-Japan All-Star team in 1984.
Cannon has two children, Marc and Melissa (Guzy) and three grandchildren, Will, Katie and John. Cannon and her son, Marc, share a unique bond. In 1999 Cannon was initiated into the University of Miami’s prestigous Iron Arrow Society making the Cannons the first-ever athletic related mother-son tandem to be members of Iron Arrow.
