 | Position:
Assistant Coach
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Former Demon Deacon All-American Stephanie Neill Harner enters her 2nd year as assistant coach for the Wake Forest University women's golf team and head coach Dianne Dailey--her coach from when she played golf for Wake Forest from 1991-95.
Dailey believes that Harner and her experience are major assets to the team.
"We're very fortunate and excited to have someone with the experience and expertise that Stephanie has," Dailey said. "She brings a wealth of knowledge to the program. As an alum, she knows and loves Wake Forest and her enthusiasm is contagious. She relates well to the students and understands the demands of being a student at Wake Forest. She is a wonderful role model for the students -- she was a four time All-American and Academic All-American, she played professionally for several years and now has the opportunity to share her experience through coaching.
"She is the ideal representative of our program and the University and our program will only prosper with her assistance."
Harner has a strong background and relationship with Dailey from her career at Wake Forest. Harner received All-American honors each of her four years at WFU and, to date, is the only player in the history of ACC women's golf to accomplish this feat.
In addition to her All-America honors, Harner owns or has tied many significant records in WFU women's golf history, including the top individual 18-hole score of 67 and the most tournament wins (8), including the 1993 ACC Championship. Harner also received All-ACC honors each of her four years and was tabbed ACC Player of the Year in 1995. Amazingly, she only finished outside of the top 10 four times during her collegiate career.
During the ACC's 50th anniversary celebration in 2002-03, Harner was one of 10 WFU golfers named to the league's 50th anniversary women's golf team and one of just three former Deacons to appear on the ACC's Top 50 Female Athletes list.
Following her graduation in 1995, Harner competed professionally on the Futures Tour, with one season on the Ladies' European Tour (2000). She achieved two second place finishes on the Futures Tour and led the Tour in putting statistics in 1996. As a professional, Harner's lowest round is 66.
Harner says she has enjoyed the transition from competing to teaching and coaching at Wake Forest. "I really enjoyed my first season as Assistant Coach. Coach Dailey is a great mentor and we work well together. Wake Forest is a special place that has meant so much to me personally. It is exciting to be here to help the current Wake Forest golfers make the most of their talents and succeed athletically, academically, and socially. I'm looking forward to a tremendous 2004-2005 season."
Stephanie is married to Rob Harner, a Class A Member of the PGA and an Assistant Golf Professional at Myers Park Country Club in Charlotte. The Harners enjoyed a busy spring and summer with the birth of their first child, Sarah Blair Harner, on May 2, 2004.
