EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Athletics Director Dan Schumacher has announced the hiring of Andy Meade as the new head women's golf coach.
Before being elevated to the head coach position, Meade was serving as an assistant. Meade will begin his new coaching duties immediately and Darrin Skinner remains as the head coach for the men's program.
"We are excited to have Andy lead the women's golf program and take it to new heights," said Schumacher. "As an alumnus and former teacher and coach, he is perfectly suited for this role."
Meade graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 1983 and taught high school social studies for 30 years at Colfax High School where he also was the head boys basketball, golf and track and field coach. He also earned a master's degree in education from St. Scholastica in 2001.
As a coach, Meade led the Colfax boys basketball team to the state tournament in 2012 and was a member of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). He retired in 2015 and the long-time teacher and coach is ready to get back in the game. "I always felt that coaching was just an extension of my classroom," said Meade.
Meade has been in the Chippewa Valley since his teen years, graduating from Chippewa Falls McDonell High School. Not only is he familiar with the Chippewa Valley, he has spent years traveling around the state and region for junior golf tournaments with his daughter, Lexi, who was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Year in 2021.
"I'm excited for this new chapter," said Meade. "It's a way to give back as a Blugold alum; this school is important to me. I look forward to working with the student-athletes and watching them get better and being excellent representatives of this university."
Meade is not the first alum to lead a Blugold golf program. He joins a group including Meghan Sobotta, Mike Greer and current Wisconsin Badgers women's golf coach, Todd Oehrlein, as Blugolds who coached at their alma mater.
Meade resides in Eau Claire with his wife Nicole – also a Blugold alum – and their two children, Lexi and Bennett.
