From Washington University Athletics
Washington University in St. Louis Head Women's Golf Coach Dave Reinhardt has been named the Jackie Steinmann Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) National Coach of the Year presented by Golf Pride for Division III,
"Receiving this award is quite exciting! I am grateful to Golf Pride and the WGCA and honored to be recognized as National DIII Coach of the Year," said Reinhardt. "My sincere appreciation goes to the WashU Athletics Administration - Anthony J. Azama and Summer Hutcheson. Their support and guidance have helped me lead our program in many ways. Many thanks to my fellow WashU coaches - I learn from them every day on how to be a successful leader of student-athletes. I also want to say thank you to all the golf coaches in all the NCAA Divisions that I have spoken to about overseeing a golf program. Most of all, I thank our team. These scholar-champions are amazing individuals on and off the course. We had a wonderful year of great golf, and I am proud and happy for all of them. Go Bears!"
Reinhardt led the Bears to the program's best-ever finish at the NCAA Championships this season, as WashU was the National Runner-Up. In addition to the tremendous team play, senior Annie Mascot won the individual national title, marking the first individual title in golf program history.
"Dave has been a wonderful addition to our Athletic Department and University," said Azama. "His ability to teach, develop and care for our talented student-athletes who want to become and graduate scholar-champions, is unprecedented!"
Sophomore Sydney Kuo was named the PING WGCA Division III Player of the Year, marking just the third time in program history a player has received that honor. Additionally, Kuo repeated as the UAA Player of the Year. She is the only player in program history to repeat as conference player of the Year.
Both Kuo and Mascot earned NCAA All-America honors. Kuo was a repeat First-team Selection and Mascot earned an Honorable Mention nod.
The Bears were ranked among the top five teams nationally all season, checking in as high as No. 2. The team won four invites throughout the fall and spring – the DIII National Preview, Montgomery Women's Intercollegiate, the WashU Spring Invite and Millikin's Take Back the Night Challenge. Additionally, Kuo posted the top score in five competitions this season.
Reinhardt began as an assistant coach for the Bears in 2018 and served in that role for three seasons. Prior to the 2021-22 year, he was named the Interim Head Coach before being named the fourth full-time Head Coach prior to the 2022-23 season.