Georgia women's golf hires coach from AAC program

South Florida’s Erika Brennan is the new Georgia women’s golf coach, according to an announcement by the school on Tuesday.

Brennan guided the American Athletic Conference program to back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2001 and 2002.

Georgia fired Josh Brewer after 12 seasons on May 9 after the team failed to qualify for the NCAA Championships, falling one stroke short in the Regional round.

Brennan's team won three times and finished in the top four in nine of 10 events this season, her seventh with the program. USF set records for team and individual stroke average. South Florida climbed 74 spots in the national rankings in her first season.

“We are excited to welcome Erika to the Georgia family,” Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said in a statement. “She has done an outstanding job throughout her coaching career, including most recently as the head coach at USF. Not only is Erika a great leader, she brings tremendous positivity and energy to everything she does. She will be an excellent mentor for our student-athletes and an exceptional representative of the University of Georgia women’s golf program.”

The Lake Wales, Fla. native previously was head coach at Southern Miss and Saint Leo and was an assistant at Tennessee in 2014. She played at Western Carolina where she ranked in the top 20 in the Southern Conference.

"I'm honored to get down to work as the next coach here at the University of Georgia,” Brennan said. “This program has such a storied past, and we're ready to ensure the rich tradition continues at the highest level. …Comprehensive excellence is the standard, and our student-athletes will show up to prove that every day. The Georgia fan base is one of the most passionate in the country, and we're amped to give you yet another reason to stand up and cheer!"

In announcing Brennan's move to Georgia on the USF athletics’ website, athletic director Michael Kelly said: "Erika masterfully led our USF women's golf program to great success and did so through faithful dedication to her unique style of positive leadership.”