Minnesota associate golf head coach Kristine Wessinger will resign her position as the head coach of the women’s golf team to start a varsity program with St. Catherine University, according to the Wildcats’ website. Wessinger will become the first golf coach in SCU history in the fall of 2011.

Wessinger was appointed Minnesota associate head coach by then-director of golf Brad James in June of 2007, where she assisted James in recruiting and player development of the women’s team. Under Wessinger, the women’s team recorded its best average team score in history last season, and narrowly missed being invited to an NCAA regional qualifier.

With Wessinger’s departure, the Minnesota golf program is left with no coaches currently hired. James accepted a job as High Performance Director with Golf Australia in January and left the program after the season. Associate men’s head coach Andrew Tank took a job as head coach of the Iowa State men’s golf team in mid-July.

Wessinger is familiar with the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, as she was the MIAC champion as a member of the St. Thomas women’s golf team in 1999 and competed in two Division III championships.

“I am really excited that we were able to find someone with such great coaching experience and energy to start our program,” St. Catherine athletic director Eric Stacey said in a statement. “Her experience at the University of Minnesota and her desire to move back into the MIAC, where she played as a student-athlete, made her a perfect fit. I am confident Kris will develop a strong team at St. Kate’s.”

Several media outlets reported that the Gophers will hire former Minnesota golfer and hockey player John Harris as the new director of golf, but no official announcement has been made by the team.