Aug. 21, 2012

TUCSON - Head coach Laura Ianello and the University of Arizona Wildcat women's golf team have announced the hiring of Derek Radley as the program's new assistant coach. Radley joins the UA staff after two seasons serving as professional coach and caddy for LPGA Tour member Sara Brown.

"Derek brings a great amount of teaching knowledge and PGA and LPGA Tour experience to our team," head coach Laura Ianello said. "He's familiar with Tucson, the history and tradition of Arizona women's golf and the collegiate golf scene. We're excited for Derek to join our Wildcat family and our team can really learn a lot from him."

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Radley is a 2006 graduate of Ferris State, where he played as the No. 3 on the Bulldogs' squad. He earned his degree in marketing and professional golf management.

He is certified as a PGA Class A Professional. Upon graduation, Radley began his teaching career at two top-25 golf schools, Crystal Mountain (Michigan) and Dana Rader (North Carolina).

Radley began working with Brown in January, 2011 and the duo uses Tucson as its home base for training at La Paloma. Radley coached Brown to full status on the LPGA and Ladies European Tour through Qualifying School for the 2011 season. Brown's best tournament finish last year was 12th in Dubai alongside Michelle Wie in December 2011, and recently, she earned her first win on the LPGA Symetra Tour in Fishers, Ind.

The Wildcats will open the fall season with the Mason Rudolph Championship, Sept. 21-23, hosted by Vanderbilt University in Nashville.