Janice Olivencia in her continued pursuit begins her fourth season as the Canes Head Golf Coach for the 2025-26 season.
Olivencia has quickly steered the Hurricanes into a nationally prominent program guided by her reputable success on being one of the most dynamic and globally respected coaches in the sport.
Under Olivencia’s leadership, Miami has captured four team titles, produced four individual tournament champions, made consecutive NCAA Regional Championship appearances (2024, 2025) — all while earning four WGCA Academic All-American honors and two All-ACC selections.
In just her second season, she guided Miami to a regional berth in the 2024 NCAA Championship, while standout Sara Byrne earned WGCA Second Team All-American honors and became the first Hurricane ever to win back-to-back ACC Golfer of the Month awards.
Before arriving in Coral Gables, Olivencia spent over a decade building championship program at Florida and USF. Olivencia spent 10 seasons building Florida into a national contender as an assistant coach (2012–17) and later as the associate head coach (2017–22). She helped guide the Gators to 27 team victories, 23 individual titles, 10 NCAA Regional appearances, six NCAA National Championship berths, and the 2017 SEC Championship. Her players secured eight WGCA All-America honors, 24 All-SEC selections, and 60 SEC Academic All-Conference recognitions, while the program earned a 2019 NCAA National Championship Individual Runner-Up finish.
Olivencia began her coaching career at the University of South Florida (2011–12), where her immediate impact produced five team wins, three individual titles, and the program’s first and only Big East Conference Championship. Her players earned Big East Player of the Year honors, multiple all-conference nominations, and national academic recognition.
Her influence extends beyond the collegiate ranks. Olivencia has mentored players now competing across the LPGA, Epson Tour, and Ladies European Tour, and guided international competitors representing their nations in the Olympic Games, Curtis Cup, Pan American Games, World Amateur Team Championships, and Arnold Palmer Cup — where she served as Assistant Coach for the 2024 International Team.
Before coaching, Olivencia’s playing career redefined what was possible for Puerto Rican golf. A two-time NCAA All-American and the 2002 Big 12 Player of the Year at the University of Texas, she helped the Longhorns to four straight NCAA Championship appearances and captured the 2002 Women’s Western Amateur Championship. She became the first Puerto Rican woman to qualify for both the Ladies European Tour and the U.S. Women’s Open, competing professionally on the LPGA, Symetra, and Ladies European Tours from 2005 to 2011.
A native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, Olivencia earned her bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of Texas in 2004. Today, she stands as one of the most accomplished Hispanic coaches in collegiate golf — a fierce competitor whose standard of excellence continues to elevate the University of Miami’s golf program and their pursuit for continued national prominence.
Miami | Head Coach | 2022-Present
- Four Team Titles
- Four Individual Titles
- 2023 Individual NCAA Regional Championship Appearance – Sara Byrne
- 2023 Individual NCAA National Championship Appearance – Sara Byrne
- Two (2024 & 2025) NCAA Regional Championship Appearances
- Four WGCA Academic All-American Scholars
- 2024 WGCA All American – Sara Byrne
- Two ACC All Conference Honors
Florida | Assistant Coach 2012-2017 | Associate Head Coach 2017-2022
- Ten NCAA Regional Championship Appearances
- Six NCAA National Championship Team Appearances
- Two NCAA National Championship Individual Appearances
- Eight WGCA All American Nominations
- Sixteen WGCA Academic All Americans
- 2017 SEC Champions
- 2016 Individual SEC Champion
- 2019 National Champion Individual Runner Up
- Twenty-Four All SEC Conference Honors
- Sixteen WGCA Academic All Americans
- Sixty SEC Academic All-Conference Honors
- 27 Team Titles
- 23 Individual Titles
USF | Assistant Coach | 2011-2012
- Three Individual Wins
- Five Team Wins (most in any regular season to date)
- 2012 Big East Player of the Year
- 2012 Big East Conference Champions (only one in golf program)
- Three Players named Big East All Conference
- Two WGCA Academic All Americans
Espíritu Santo WATC (World Amateur Team Championships) – 11 Participants
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Philippines
- Puerto Rico
- Slovenia
- Spain (2 Players)
- Turkey
LPGA/Epson Tour – Four Players | LET/LET Access – Four Players
Curtis Cup
2021 & 2022 – Annabell Fuller (GB&I)
2024 – Sara Byrne (GB&I)
Panamerican Games – Participant
2015 – Maria Torres | Puerto Rico
Olympics
2021 – Maria Torres | Puerto Rico
Arnold Palmer Participants & Coaching
Maisie Filler & Addie Baggarly – USA Team
Sara Byrne – International Team
2024 Arnold Palmer Assistant Coach – International Team
Personal Achievements:
LPGA & Symetra Tour / 2008 – 2011
Ladies European Tour / 2005 – 2008
Professional Golfer
University of Texas Golf Team / 2000 – 2004
Puerto Rico National Team / 1998 – 2004
Team Member
Playing Career Accomplishments
- Four Year Letter Winner/ Student Athlete / University of Texas
- Espíritu Santo WATC Participant (Puerto Rico) 2000 & 2004
- Helped Texas Advance to four straight NCAA Championships
- Two-Time NCAA All American Selection
- Three-Time Big 12 Conference Team Honoree
- 2002 Big 12 Player of the Year
- 2002 Women’s Western Amateur Champion
- First Woman from Puerto Rico to play in the United States Women’s Open – Major Championship
- Three-Time Caribbean Amateur Individual Champion
Janice Olivencia was named the University of Miami head women’s golf coach on June 13, 2022.
In 2023-24, Olivencia coached the Hurricanes’ to a regional berth in the 2024 NCAA Championship, her first as a head coach. Sara Byrne was named a WGCA Second Team All-American under Olivencia’s tutelage and also became the first Miami player to ever earn back-to-back ACC Golfer of the Month honors.
During Olivencia’s first season at the helm of the Hurricanes’ program, she mentored Byrne to an individual appearance at the 2023 NCAA Golf Championship in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Olivencia arrived in Coral Gables after spending the past 10 seasons at the University of Florida, serving as assistant coach from 2012-18 and associate head coach from 2018-22.
“We are excited to welcome Janice to the University of Miami family,” Vice President/Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said. “Janice has had tremendous success as both a player and a coach and she has a clear vision for how we can build on the success of our golf program.”
As a player, Olivencia was a two-time All-American at the University of Texas and the 2002 Big 12 Player of the Year. She played professionally on the Ladies European Tour from 2005-08 and the LPGA’s Duramed Futures Tour from 2008-10 before securing her first coaching job as an assistant coach at the University of South Florida in 2011.
Florida won 25 tournaments, qualified for nine NCAA Regionals and advanced to the NCAA Championships six times during Olivencia’s tenure in Gainesville, finishing in a tie for fifth in 2017, UF’s best team finish since 1998. The Gators also won the 2017 Southeastern Conference title. Florida golfers earned 26 All-SEC honors and nine All-America honors over Olivencia’s 10 seasons, including Maria Torres, who earned first-team All-American honors in 2017, won the SEC individual championship in 2016 and was named SEC Golfer of the Year in 2016. Olivencia helped Sierra Brooks set the school record for season stroke average (70.33) in 2020 and the top individual round in school history (62) in 2018.
Olivencia launched her coaching career at USF, helping the Bulls win their first Big East championship and advance to NCAA Regionals in 2012. The Bulls’ Christina Miller became the first player in school history to win Big East Player of the Year.
Olivencia, a native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, became the first Puerto Rican woman to qualify for the Ladies European Tour. She was also the first Puerto Rican woman to qualify for a major, competing in the 2009 U.S. Open.
During her Texas playing career, Olivencia earned All-America honors in 2002 and 2003, and was a three-time All-Big 12 selection. She won two individual titles, posted 15 top-10 finishes and twice placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships. While at Texas, Olivencia also won the 2002 Women’s Western Amateur Championship, was a 2002 co-medalist U.S. Open Qualifier, and both a quarterfinalist and semifinalist at the North & South Amateur Championship. She received her bachelor’s degree in communications studies from Texas in 2004.
Olivencia was a member of the Puerto Rico National Golf team from 1998-2004, representing her country twice at the World Amateur Championships. In addition, she was a three-time Caribbean Women’s Amateur Champion and a two-time Puerto Rico Island Champion.
Janice Olivencia Career Highlights and Notes
Coaching Career
- Head Coach, University of Miami, 2022-present
- Associate Head Coach, University of Florida, 2018-2022
- Assistant Coach, University of Florida, 2012-2018
- Assistant Coach, University of South Florida, 2011-12
Playing Career
- LPGA Duramed Futures Tour, 2008-10
- Ladies European Tour, 2005-08
- University of Texas, 2000-04
- Puerto Rico National Golf Team, 1998-2004
Playing Honors
- Two-time National Golf Coaches Association All-American (2002-03)
- Big 12 Player of the Year (2002)
- Three-time All-Big 12 selection (2002-04)
- Three-time Caribbean Women’s Amateur Champion
- Won the Women’s Western Amateur Championship (2002)
- Co-Medalist U.S. Open qualifier (2002)
Education
Bachelor of Science, Communications Studies, University of Texas (2004)
Hometown
Caguas, Puerto Rico
