Southern Miss Hires Gallup as New Women's Golf Coach

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini Tuesday announced the hiring of Julie Brand Gallup as the Lady Eagle golf coach.

Gallup comes to Southern Miss after serving as the women's golf coach at East Tennessee State for the past year. While at ETSU, the team average improved by over a dozen shots in the 1999-2000 season, and the team finished in the top eight in every tournament.

"I am excited to be joining the Southern Miss family," said Gallup. "There is a good existing program, and I am looking forward to increasing the competitiveness and success of the program."

Prior to her stint at East Tennessee State, Gallup served as an instructor at numerous golf schools along the Eastern Seaboard, including the prestigious Bill Skelley Golf School in Florida. Gallup also played on the LPGA Tour in 1997, the Futures Tour in 1996, and the Gold Coast Tour in 1995.

"Julie is a great addition to Southern Miss," Southern Miss Associate Athletic Director Sonya Varnell said. "She is a proven leader and will bring youth and excitement to the program."

Gallup, a 1995 graduate of the University of Miami, was a two-time All-American, and was ranked as high as third in the nation at one point in her career. As an amateur, she was ranked as high as sixth in the nation. In high school, Gallup won the Women's Western Junior Open, the PGA Junior Championship, the USF&G Junior Championship, and was ranked third in the nation by Golfweek magazine.

Gallup replaces Steve Johnson who was named the men's golf coach at Southern Miss in June.