Spent Eight Years On Indiana Staff
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Lauren Harling, who as associate head coach helped lead Indiana to the school's first NCAA Championship appearance since 2007 this spring, has been named the head coach of women's golf at Yale.
"We are thrilled to welcome Lauren to the Yale Athletics Family," said Director of Athletics Vicky Chun. "Her successes as a student-athlete and as an associate head coach at Indiana University spoke volumes. However, it was her passion to develop student-athletes through a holistic approach of academics, character and athletics that set her apart."
Harling spent eight seasons on the staff at Indiana and was promoted to associate head coach in July of 2017. During her tenure, the Hoosiers made three appearances in the NCAA Regionals (2013, 2016, 2019). This spring, IU finished 21st in the nation, the school's best finish since 1998, and in 2018 Erin Harper qualified for the NCAA Championship as an individual.
"I am so grateful to Vicky Chun and Mary Berdo for the opportunity to lead the women's golf program at Yale University," Harling said. "The vision expressed throughout this whole process has been done with such passion and excitement for what the future holds, and I cannot wait to get started. I also can't thank Clint Wallman and Kristine Fowler at Indiana University enough for being such strong mentors and a tremendous support system for my development as a coach and person. I would not be here without their support."
Harling, who also served as Indiana's recruiting coordinator, mentored a number of highly successful golfers. Harper graduated this spring with the lowest career scoring average (74.29) in school history and is currently playing on the Symetra Tour. In 2018, Mary Parsons finished with the best single season stroke average (73.31) in program history. Parsons also holds the lowest 18-hole score (66) in school history. In 2016, Camille Chevalier was named second team All-Big Ten and earned WGCA All-American Scholar accolades. She is presently on the Ladies' European Tour where she was named the 2017 Rookie of the Year. In addition, Harling helped Elizabeth Tong to a pair of NCAA appearances and first team All-Big Ten honors in 2015, the first IU golfer on the first team since 2006. Tong also is currently playing professionally on the Symetra Tour.
Harling is a member of Women Leaders in College Sports, Alliance of Women Coaches, and the Women's Golf Coaches Association and graduated from the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy in 2016. In addition, Harling completed her Master's in Public Affairs from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs in May 2018. She received her undergraduate degree in 2008 from IU's Kelley School of Business.
Prior to joining the coaching staff at IU, Harling spent one year as Director of College Placement for Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Harling's duties included advising the academy's students, who represent 28 countries and 30 states, as they prepare to play golf at the collegiate level. She also helped facilitate communication and planning between the Academy's students and college coaches. Part of her position was to heighten awareness of college golf recruiting through online webinars, newsletters and social media.
Prior to that she served as an instructor at Hank Haney IJGA from June 2009 through July 2010.
In 2008-09, Harling served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Hoosiers while completing her undergraduate degree.
Harling joined the Hoosier golf family in the spring of 2007 as a transfer from North Carolina State, where she spent her freshman and sophomore years. She had an immediate impact with Indiana, helping the Hoosiers make the 24-team NCAA Championship field in 2007, IU's first NCAA Championship appearance since 1998. In 2008, Harling and the Hoosiers advanced to the postseason for the second-straight year, appearing in the NCAA East Regional in Athens, Georgia.
Individually, Harling tied for 21st at the 2007 Big Ten Championships and tied for 21st at the 2007 NCAA Central Regional with a three-round score of 225.
As a senior, Harling competed in all 12 events, with the highlight coming at the 2008 Mountain View Invitational as she won her first-ever collegiate individual title with a three-round score of 215 (-1). Indiana also took home the team title at that event. She also tied for 23rd at the Big Ten Championships that season, one of five top-25 finishes, and earned a pair of Big Ten Golfer of the Week honors.
In her two seasons at N.C. State, Harling played in eight tournaments, highlighted by a tie for 35th at the NCAA East Regional in 2005. She was named the team's Most Improved Player for 2004-05 and was an ACC Scholar Athlete.
Report filed by Tim Bennett (timothy.bennett@yale.edu), Yale Athletics Strategic Communication
