Ianello Inks Contract Extension Through 2026

TUCSON, Ariz. – Following a third consecutive deep postseason run, head women's golf coach Laura Ianello has agreed to a five-year extension that will keep her at her alma mater through the 2026 season. Ianello guided the Wildcats to the 2018 national championship and made Arizona Women's Golf the only program in the nation to reach the semifinals of match play in each of the last three NCAA Championships.

"Laura has continuously shown that she is an elite caliber coach that has developed Arizona Women's Golf into a national powerhouse," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Heeke. "The Wildcats are the only team to reach the semifinals of the NCAA Championships in each of the last three seasons, which showcases the comprehensive excellence of Laura as a leader. Our women's golf student-athletes represent our athletics department and our university with tremendous pride and distinction, and that is a tremendous testament to the program Laura has built. She is a proud Wildcat, and the future of Arizona Women's Golf continues to shine brightly under her leadership."

Arizona has established itself among the elite of college women's golf with eight trips to the NCAA Championships in Ianello's 11 seasons at the helm. Arizona student-athletes have earned a total of seven All-America honors in the last seven seasons, capped by senior Yu-Sang Hou who became a three-time WGCA All-American this spring. Arizona Women's Golf's impressive national competition prowess is rivaled by its sustained excellence in the Pac-12 Conference as the program has finished fourth or better at the Pac-12 Championships in every season of Ianello's tenure as head coach.

"I want to thank Dave Heeke and our administration for their belief in me and our women's golf program," Ianello said. "My goals at Arizona are to continue to build a championship legacy and help our student-athletes excel on and off the course. Being a Wildcat, and having worn the red and blue, motivates me to make the University of Arizona a world class training center for our current and future student-athletes to become champions and proudly represent this tremendous university." 

A two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year, Ianello has guided Wildcats to the all-conference first and second teams 15 times in 11 seasons.  She has also coached Wildcats who have made Pac-12 All-Academic teams on 15 different occasions as well during that same span of time. Wanasa Zhou became the second Wildcat ever to be named Pac-12 Scholar Athlete in 2017, which followed Allison Walshe's honor in 2008.

Ianello was a member of Arizona's national championship team in 2000 that also won three consecutive Pac-10 championships from 2001 to 2003.

Originally from Charleston, Ill., Ianello was the runner-up at the 2000 U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.  She also played in the 2001, 2002 and 2004 U.S. Women's Open, the 2002 Curtis Cup and represented the U.S. at the 2000 and 2002 World Amateur Championship. For three seasons (2000-03), she was ranked in the top 10 in Golfweek magazine's amateur rankings.