March 7, 2022 Columbia, Mo. – Columbia College Director of Athletics James Arnold, has announced that Michelle Parrish will become the Cougar’s head men’s and women’s golf coach.
Parrish had served as the interim head coach since July 2021, when then-head coach John Utley announced his resignation. She becomes the second head coach since 2012-13.
“We are thrilled to announce Michelle as our next head coach,” said James Arnold, Director of Athletics. “She has earned this opportunity over the past few years and she exceeded our expectations during the interim period. In addition to understanding the game at a high level she has established a great rapport with our student-athletes, is becoming a masterful recruiter, and is always finding ways to ensure our golfers have a great student-athlete experience.”
Parrish has been at Columbia since 2017-18, where she served as an assistant coach. Parrish played golf at the University of Missouri, where she finished with the lowest stroke average in program history at 72.50. She made it to the semifinals for the 32nd US Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Norwood Hills in 2018. In 2019 she finished second in stroke play at the 33rd US Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and in the summer of 2019, Parrish won the Missouri Women’s Amateur Championship and the Missouri Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. She was later named 2019 Missouri Golf Association Player of the Year and was named to the 2108 and 2019 Global Golf Post First Team Women’s Mid-Amateur. In 2020, Parrish earned the WIN for Columbia Glady’s Stankowski Sportswoman of the Year honor.
“I am incredibly honored to become the next head coach of the men and women’s golf program at Columbia College,” said Michelle Parrish. “When I started as a GA for the golf program in 2017, I would have never imagined becoming the head coach so soon, but it’s something I’ve dreamt about for years now! I love the teams so much and cannot wait to see what we accomplish as a program. Thank you to James and Cindy for trusting me with this new role, I am so thankful. And a huge thank you to my amazing family and friends for all the support in helping me get to this spot today! We are CC!”
In the fall, under the direction of Parrish, the men’s golf team placed in the top three in each of their four tournaments, while the women’s side finished second in three-of-the-four tournaments. In addition, she helped coach Emily Strunck to the individual title at the CC Cougar Classic.
“I have watched Michelle grow and learn throughout her time with us and it is clear how much of a proven champion she is on and away from the course,” said Cindy Potter, Senior Deputy Director of Athletics. “She is a respected instructor and has already made big strides with the program.”
The teams are back in action on March 14-15 when they travel to Meadowbrook Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., to participate in the Ron Streck Invite, hosted by Evangel University.
