RICHMOND, Ky. ­ Eastern Kentucky University Director of Athletics Dr. Robert Baugh has announced that Joni Stephens has been named women's golf coach at EKU, replacing Sandy Martin who retired from the coaching profession at the close of the 1998 spring season.

Stephens is a former assistant professor of physical education at EKU (1994-96). She has also served as women's softball coach, the coed cheerleading squad coach and the dance team coach at Transylvania University (1991-94).

She has most recently (1996-98) been involved in merchandising for Richmond's Gibson Bay Golf Course and EKU's Arlington Golf Course pro shops, while playing golf competitively.

"Taking on this new position is an exciting prospect for me and I am looking forward to continuing the proud tradition Coach Martin has established in women's golf at EKU," Stephens said. "This is a job I've dreamed about having one day. I'm really looking forward to working with the players on the team when they come back to school in August."

Stephens received her bachelors degree in physical education and dance at Eastern in 1990 and her masters degree from EKU in physical education in 1991.

She has done graduate studies on the analysis of the golf swing, consulting work to produce golf feasibility studies for several Kentucky cities and co-authored a book on learning and teaching the game of golf.

Stephens is a 1979 graduate of Madison Central High School in Richmond where she played three years of golf for the Indians. Her senior year, she helped lead Madison Central to a sixth-place team finish in the state tournament. In individual competition that season, Stephens won the Mid-State Conference title and placed third in the regional tournament.

Joni and her husband, Pat, who serves Eastern as the men's golf team coach and club professional at EKU's Arlington Golf Course, have three sons: Daniel (16), Ben (14) and Joseph (5).

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