Kim Kester Named Head Women’s Golf Coach at Northern Illinois

     TOLEDO, OH - Former Rocket player and graduate assistant coach Kim Kester has been named head coach of the Northern Illinois University's women's golf team, NIU Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeff Compher announced Wednesday.

     "It is my pleasure to welcome Kim to the Huskie family," Compher said. "Kim brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to our women's golf program as well as a thorough understanding of the Mid-American Conference. Not only does she know what it takes to coach in the league, she knows what it's like to compete in the MAC, having been a very successful golfer in the conference."

     "I'm very excited," Kester said. "I come from the MAC, having been at Toledo the last three years, so I am very familiar with the Northern Illinois golf program. I'm ready to take the team to the next level. The MAC is a strong league and it's a good conference. There is a lot of talent [in the league] and the schedule everybody plays is pretty competitive."

     Kester spent the last three seasons as a graduate assistant at Toledo. She helped lead the Rockets to a third-place finish at the MAC Championship in 2010 and 2012. During her tenure at Toledo, Kester served as academic coordinator and assisted in golf instruction and recruiting duties for the Rockets.

     "This is such wonderful news, and I couldn't be more proud of Kim!" Toledo Head Coach Nicole Hollingsworth said. "She made many contributions to our program first as a player and then as a graduate assistant. She is extremely deserving of this opportunity."

     A standout golfer for Toledo, Kester is a two-time second-team All-MAC honoree and posted the second-lowest single-season stroke average in school history with a 76.5 mark in her junior campaign. In that season, she led UT with six top-five finishes and tied for the team lead with eight top-10 showings. She also helped the Rockets post a school-best runner-up finish at the 2006 MAC Championship. A three-time team captain for the Rockets, Kester was Toledo's MVP in the 2006-07 season.

          A native of Ada, MI, Kester has had a solid amateur career as well. She captured the Golf Association of Michigan Women's Mid-Amateur Championship in August 2011 with a four-under 140. Kester also won the Grand Rapids Women's City Championship in 2005 and 2006. In 2005, she finished with a three-day total of eight-under 214 (76-66-72) posting a course-record 66 in the second round. Kester also placed fourth at the 2005 GAM Women's Championship and reached the 'Sweet 16' of the 2005 Michigan Women's Amatuer.

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