University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Announces Leadership Change in Women’s Golf Program
May 17, 2021 | Women's Golf
For the first time in 21 years, Tennessee is seeking new leadership for its women's golf program, as longtime head coach Judi Pavon was notified last week that her contract will not be renewed.
Pavon's contract is set to expire on June 30, and a national search for the program's next head coach will begin this week.
"On behalf of Tennessee Athletics, I want to thank Coach Pavon for her more than two decades of service to the golf program and to the university," Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. "Her teams consistently represented the university with class while excelling academically. As her contract approaches its full term, we have decided to pursue new leadership to build on the very solid foundation she has established. Thanks to Judi's efforts, our next head coach will step into a great position."
Pavon served as the head coach of the Lady Vols for 21 full seasons, taking over as interim head coach during the 1999-2000 campaign following three years as a UT assistant. She concludes her tenure on Rocky Top with a record of 2,211-1,411-38.
Along with owning the program record for head-to-head wins, Pavon also holds the program coaching record for most tournament team titles, with 22.
"I'm grateful for the 24 years I spent at Tennessee and especially for the young ladies I have been privileged to coach," Pavon said. "I've tried my best to make it all about those young women—working every day to help them become stronger students, better golfers and excellent teammates. I'm proud of everything we accomplished together, and I'll always support the Tennessee golf program any way I can."
Tennessee's top SEC finish under Pavon's direction was second place in 2006, when she garnered SEC Coach of the Year acclaim.
Tennessee's single-season program record of 151 wins came during the 2014-15 season under Pavon's leadership. The Lady Vols finished that year as the ninth-ranked team in the country.
While being selected to the NCAA Regionals in each of Pavon's 21 seasons, her Lady Vols advanced to the NCAA Championship as a team 11 times.
The Lady Vols won NCAA Regional titles twice under Pavon's direction, winning back-to-back in 2005 and 2006.
Tennessee's top NCAA Championship finish under Pavon was fifth, as the Lady Vols accomplished that feat in both 2000 and 2015.
Tennessee also earned four top-three finishes at the SEC Championship during Pavon's time in Knoxville, which came in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007.
The Tennessee women's golf program received 25 All-America awards during Pavon's tenure.
A former President of the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA), Pavon was the recipient of the 2015 WGCA Founders Award.
Assistant coach Chas Narramore (first name pronounced: Chase) will accompany junior Mikayla Bardwell to the upcoming NCAA Championships in Scottsdale, Arizona, where Bardwell earned the opportunity to compete as an individual.
Pavon's contract is set to expire on June 30, and a national search for the program's next head coach will begin this week.
"On behalf of Tennessee Athletics, I want to thank Coach Pavon for her more than two decades of service to the golf program and to the university," Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. "Her teams consistently represented the university with class while excelling academically. As her contract approaches its full term, we have decided to pursue new leadership to build on the very solid foundation she has established. Thanks to Judi's efforts, our next head coach will step into a great position."
Pavon served as the head coach of the Lady Vols for 21 full seasons, taking over as interim head coach during the 1999-2000 campaign following three years as a UT assistant. She concludes her tenure on Rocky Top with a record of 2,211-1,411-38.
Along with owning the program record for head-to-head wins, Pavon also holds the program coaching record for most tournament team titles, with 22.
"I'm grateful for the 24 years I spent at Tennessee and especially for the young ladies I have been privileged to coach," Pavon said. "I've tried my best to make it all about those young women—working every day to help them become stronger students, better golfers and excellent teammates. I'm proud of everything we accomplished together, and I'll always support the Tennessee golf program any way I can."
Tennessee's top SEC finish under Pavon's direction was second place in 2006, when she garnered SEC Coach of the Year acclaim.
Tennessee's single-season program record of 151 wins came during the 2014-15 season under Pavon's leadership. The Lady Vols finished that year as the ninth-ranked team in the country.
While being selected to the NCAA Regionals in each of Pavon's 21 seasons, her Lady Vols advanced to the NCAA Championship as a team 11 times.
The Lady Vols won NCAA Regional titles twice under Pavon's direction, winning back-to-back in 2005 and 2006.
Tennessee's top NCAA Championship finish under Pavon was fifth, as the Lady Vols accomplished that feat in both 2000 and 2015.
Tennessee also earned four top-three finishes at the SEC Championship during Pavon's time in Knoxville, which came in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007.
The Tennessee women's golf program received 25 All-America awards during Pavon's tenure.
A former President of the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA), Pavon was the recipient of the 2015 WGCA Founders Award.
Assistant coach Chas Narramore (first name pronounced: Chase) will accompany junior Mikayla Bardwell to the upcoming NCAA Championships in Scottsdale, Arizona, where Bardwell earned the opportunity to compete as an individual.
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