A pillar of the Colorado athletics department is calling it a career.
On Monday, CU announced that longtime head women’s golf coach Anne Kelly will retire at the conclusion of the 2023-24 school year.
Kelly is in her 27th season as the Buffaloes’ leader and is just one of two head coaches in the 30-year history of the women’s golf program.
Kelly is the longest-tenured female head coach in CU athletics history, and her tenure is the seventh-longest overall. Among current CU coaches only track and cross country coach Mark Wetmore, promoted to head coach about 11 months prior to Kelly’s arrival, has coached the Buffs longer.
“I’m so thankful to all the wonderful people I’ve met and worked with over the years, especially Dick Tharp who hired me, Mike Bohn for assisting us with our Colorado National Golf Course partnership and Rick George for believing in me and the continued support of our team and department,” Kelly said in a release from CU. “I’ve been able to be a part of an amazing group of coaches at CU and loved working alongside (men’s golf coaches) Mark Simpson, Roy Edwards, Derek Tolan, longtime (women’s) assistant coach Brent Franklin and current associate head coach Madeleine Sheils.
“’Why announce now?’ is a question I asked myself, but when I decided that after this season the time was right to move on, I wanted to make it known, so I could put all my focus and energy into our current team and having the best season possible. I also felt it was ethically correct to let recruits know of my decision before they made their decision and signed (a national letter of intent).”
A native of Aspen, Kelly was a standout collegiate golfer at TCU, helping to lead the Horned Frogs to the 1983 NCAA team title. She spent six years on the LPGA Tour before getting into coaching.
Kelly’s CU teams have made eight NCAA Regional appearances and earned two NCAA Championship berths. Five of her players earned individual berths to NCAA Regionals. Under Kelly, CU golfers have collected nine All-American honors and 15 all-conference selections (in the Big 12 and Pac-12).
When the Buffs tee off at the Stanford Intercollegiate later this week, it will mark Kelly’s 308th event as CU’s head coach.
“Itap not easy to let go, but all good things come to an end and the time is right for me to say farewell,” Kelly said. “Itap a difficult, emotional decision, but I feel confident about where the program is headed. The time is right for me to hand off the program and become CU golf’s biggest fan.
“I’m proud of our accomplishments and growth, but primarily proud of so many of the young women who have played for Colorado and the amazing, successful and caring adults they have become. That is the true success that I will always cherish.”
