Rebecca Mailloux completed her 17th season as head coach of the women's golf team at Grand Valley State following the 2024-25 campaign.
The 2024-25 season was another outstanding season for the Lakers. They claimed the NCAA East Regional Title and won their second straight GLIAC Championship. Those were two of the five tournament wins the Lakers earned throughout the season. Mailloux was the GLIAC Coach of the Year for the 10th time during her time in Allendale, the most of any coach in GLIAC history. Mailloux coached six All-GLIAC performers, including GLIAC Golfer of the Year Olivia Stoll. Stoll was also named a WGCA First-Team All-American, and was one of four Lakers to be named WGCA All-Region. The Lakers advanced to their 14th National Championship appearance under Mailloux, placing ninth.
2023-24 saw the Lakers get back atop the GLIAC, as they dominated the league tournament to win the conference title. That was one of three events GVSU won throughout the year, while earning four more top-five finishes. Mailloux coached Olivia Stoll to Second-Team All-American honors, as she won both the GLIAC and Regional titles. Stoll was once again the GLIAC Golfer of the Year, one of five Lakers to be named All-GLIAC. GVSU played in the postseason for the 21st straight year, placing third at East Regionals to advance to the National Championships. For the 13th time under Mailloux, GVSU played at Nationals, coming in 13th.
In the 2022-23 season, the Lakers continued a run of success, winning three tournaments and placing four golfers on the All-GLIAC squads. Mailloux coached Paula Badino to All-American honors and Olivia Stoll to the GLIAC Golfer of the Year. Badino was the 16th All-American that Mailloux has coached at Grand Valley, while Stoll was the 12th golfer to earn that honor under her coaching. For the 20th consecutive season, the Lakers advanced into postseason play, placing third at the NCAA East Regionals to qualify for Nationals. In the National Tournament for the 12th time since Mailloux became head coach, the Lakers finished in 11th.
The 2021-22 season saw the Lakers win five tournaments, including their fourth consecutive GLIAC Title, with six players earning All-GLIAC honors, as Julia Sanchez took home GLIAC Golfer of the Year. For the 19th straight campaign, the Lakers advanced to the Midwest Regional Tournament, where the took fourth place and advanced to the National Tournament. GVSU placed 11th place at Nationals.
During the 2020-21, Mailloux guided the Lakers to a GLIAC Tournament Championships, coaching six golfers to All-GLIAC honors, including Kaite Chipman, who was named GLIAC Golfer of the Year for fourth straight year. GVSU advanced to the National Championship Tournament after coming in third in the Midwest Regional. At Nationals, the Lakers finished eighth, their best tournament finish since 2016. Chipman earned All-American honors for the fifth straight season, and her along with Megan Miron earned All-Regional accolades as well.
During the 2018-19 campaign, Mailloux led the Lakers to their 17th consecutive NCAA Regional Tournament appearance and their fourth straight NCAA DII National Championship appearance. Additionally, they defended their title as the GLIAC Tournament Champions with junior Katie Chipman taking home top honors at the conference tournament to earn back-to-back GLIAC Player of the Year honors. On top of that, Olivia Reed, Mackenzie Blomberg, and Maria Sol Pose earned All-Conference First Team honors while Morgan Janke-Wolff was named to the second team.
At the national tournament, the Lakers earned a 14th place finish overall after taking home a third-place finish at the NCAA DII East Regional Tournament the week before. In all, the Lakers took home two tournament trophies and earned 11 top-10 finishes in their 12 total events played.
The 2017-18 season saw the Lakers make their third straight return to the NCAA DII National Championship Tournament, where they finished in ninth place in the country. They got there by taking home second place at the NCAA DII East Regionals after earning seven first place finishes throughout the season. One of those victories was their 10th conference title in the past 11 seasons and the eighth total under Mailloux.
Mailloux was named the conference coach of the year for her efforts and helped Katie Chipman take home conference golfer of the year honors and Olivia Reed take home freshman of the year honors. Additionally, four total Lakers earned All-GLIAC First Team honors while one other was named to the second team.
The GVSU women's golf team won three tournaments and had one runner-up finish in the 2016-17 season, including a second place finish at the team's 15th straight NCAA Regional Tournament to advance to the NCAA National Championship tournament. Additionally, five Lakers excelled under Mailloux's instruction and garnered All-GLIAC honors.
Katie Chipman earned First Team honors in her freshman campaign, while Alex Taylor, Maria Sol Pose, Samantha Moss and Julie Guckian all brought home Second Team honors.
Last season, Mailloux led the Lakers to a fourth place finish at the Division II National Championship in Aurora, Colorado, becoming the 12th ranked program (via golfstat) in Division II by seasons end. That, coupled with leading the team to a ninth straight GLIAC Golf Championship , earned Mailloux the GLIAC Coach of the Year for the sixth time in her career. The team tied the GVSU program record with eight team victories, and set a new program best mark for finish percentage at 89.7 percent. The Lakers also set a new program record in total birdies, with 281, and tied the program record for eagles, with five on the season. At the 2016 Division II National Championship, GVSU shattered the previous program record for a team low round, carding a 284 team score in the third round of the event (previous record was 292). Additionally, the Lakers set new program marks in 36 hole and 54 hole low rounds at the 2016 GLIAC Championship.
Under Mailloux’s leadership, senior Gabrielle Shipley had a breakout season, netting four first place and three second place finishes while leading GVSU with a 73.79 scoring average. Shipley capped off her spectacular season with the 2016 individual national championship.
In all, five Lakers earned All-GLIAC honors, as juniors Alex Taylor and Julie Guckian joined Shipley on the First Team, while freshman Alex Amos and sophomore Samantha Moss were each named to the Second Team.
Most recently, Mailloux was named GLIAC Co-Coach of the Year, earning the award for the fifth time in her career. The Lakers, who finished the season ranked No. 17 by Golfstat, won six tournaments, tied for the fourth-most in program history. Moreover, GVSU's 310.14 scoring average was the fourth-lowest in school history, while its 211 birdies were the fourth-most by any Laker team. In its victory at the Perry Park Spring Fling, GVSU broke the program's 54-hole scoring record, totaling a 37-over-par 893. At season's end, Kelly Hartigan nabbed her third WGCA All-America laurel (honorable mention) and Gabrielle Shipley collected a WGCA All-America First Team plaudit. Shipley was also named the GLIAC Women's Golf "Athlete of the Year", Hartigan became a four-time All-GLIAC First Team selection and Julie Guckian and Alex Taylor earned All-GLIAC Second Team laurels. Although the team finished fourth at the NCAA Division II East Super Regional, narrowly missing out on a team spot at the NCAA Championship, Hartigan qualified as an individual, eventually tying for ninth place.
In 2013-14, Mailloux earned her fourth GLIAC Coach of the Year award as she guided the Lakers to seven victories, which were tied for the second-most in program history. The 2013-14 team also won GVSU's seventh consecutive GLIAC Championship, scored its seventh all-time victory at the NCAA Division II East Super Regional and made the program's 12th NCAA Division II National Championship appearance. The Lakers also turned in the ninth-best 54-hole score in school history with a 62-over par 926 at the Perry Park Spring Fling. At season's end, junior Kelly Hartigan became the program's fourth WGCA All-America First Team selection, three Lakers earned All-GLIAC First Team honors, another was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team and a pair were named to the WGCA All-East Region Team. Additionally, Hartigan was named the GLIAC Women's Golf "Athlete of the Year", while Julie Guckian earned GLIAC Women's Golf "Freshman of the Year" honors. The team's 313.31 scoring average was the fifth-best mark in school history and their 174 birdies were the eighth-most in a single season. GVSU's seven victories came at the Gilda's Club Laker Fall Invite, Ferris State University Bulldog Invite, Perry Park Spring Fling, NC4K Classic, JBMF Cavalier Classic, GLIAC Championship and NCAA Division II East Super Regional.
During the 2012-13 season, GVSU won its sixth straight GLIAC Championship with a team score of 943 over 54 holes. Sophomore Kelly Hartigan became the sixth Laker to garner GLIAC Medalist honors after posting a 221 (+5) three-round performance. Hartigan, who won four tournaments individually, was also named GLIAC Women's Golfer of the Year upon the conclusion of the season. GVSU finished fourth place or better in nine of the 11 tournaments in which it competed. Mailloux guided the Lakers to victories at the Las Vegas Classic, Triton Spring Invitational and GLIAC Women's Golf Championship. GVSU finished second at the NC4K College Classic, Bing-Beall Fall Classic and Concordia University Invitational. The Lakers narrowly missed out on an NCAA Division II National Championship berth. GVSU tallied 976 to come in fourth place at the NCAA Division II Super Regional 1, which was just five strokes back of California (Pa.), the final qualifier. Hartigan and freshman Gabrielle Shipley earned All-GLIAC First Team honors, while senior Marni Weinstein garnered Second Team recognition and Veronica Ryan was an Honorable Mention.
In 2011-12, The Lakers took home a seventh-place finish as the NCAA Division II National Championship, the 11th appearance at the tournament for GVSU. A fifth straight GLIAC Championship was captured with a 963 three-round performance, including a final round 319 to win the event by five strokes. For the team's performance, Mailloux was honored for the first time as the Division II Eaton Golf Pride NGCA National Coach of the Year. The Lakers won seven tournaments on the season, the second-best single-season total in GVSU history, including a team round of 292 at the Bulldog Invitational, the lowest in school history. Senior Sarah Hoffman capped off her stellar career with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championship and was named an NGCA First Team All-American after finishing second in NCAA Division II in scoring average (74.76), the lowest single-season scoring average in GVSU history. Hoffman tied a school record with five tournament wins on the season and claimed the GLIAC Championship and GLIAC Women's Golfer of the Year award. The Lakers swept the GLIAC Awards as Mailloux was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year and Kelly Hartigan was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year in addition to Hoffman's Player of the Year honor. Hoffman and Hartigan were both named First Team All-GLIAC as well as sophomore Veronica Ryan. Junior Marni Weinstein was named All-GLIAC Second Team and junior Ashley Beard earned an honorable mention accolade. Hoffman and Hartigan were both honored as part of the NGCA All-East Region team, as well.
In 2010-11, Grand Valley finished in sixth-place at the NCAA Division II National Championship. It was the tenth National Championship appearance for the Lakers. GVSU won its fourth straight GLIAC Championship by coming from behind on day two of the competition to finish with a score of 649 (+73). Mailloux was also named GLIAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season. The Lakers also claimed their fourth consecutive NCAA Regional Tournament Championship besting their closest competitor by nine strokes. Grand Valley also won the Classic Club Invitational in Palm Desert, California and finished second at the Tom Kirinovic Classic, Bing Beall Classic, Zippy Invitational, and the 5th Annual Women's Vulcan Invitational.
In 2009-10, Mailloux led the Lakers to a sixth-place finish at the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship, marking the ninth time in program history that GVSU has advanced to the national tournament. Grand Valley State also won its third straight GLIAC Championship, capturing the title by a 26-stroke margin, and took home its third consecutive NCAA Regional Tournament championship, winning the 2010 Super Region One Tournament by 13 strokes. GVSU won eight different tournaments throughout the year and placed in the top-six spots in 12 of the 13 tournaments it played in during the 2009-10 season.
After the season, Mailloux was named the NGCA (National Golf Coaches Association) East Region Coach of the Year for the second straight season, as four Lakers earned all-region status and two GVSU golfers were named NGCA All-Americans. Mailloux also was named GLIAC Coach of the Year for the first time, as four Lakers were tabbed as All-GLIAC First Team selections. In 2009-10, GVSU swept the individual all-conference honors, also earning the Women's Golfer of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards.
During her first year at the Laker helm in 2008-09, she helped lead GVSU to a second-place finish at the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championship, the highest finish in program history. Grand Valley State also captured its second straight GLIAC Championship, winning the 2009 title by 25 strokes, and dominated the NCAA East Regional, bringing home the team title by a 42-stroke margin.
Mailloux was tabbed the National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) East Region Coach of the Year, as one of just two regional coaches to win the award outright. She coached two NGCA All-Americans in 2009, four NGCA All-East Region selections, and all five golfers were named to either the All-GLIAC First or Second Team, including the GLIAC Women's Golfer of the Year.
In the fall of 2008, she inherited a program that finished third at the 2008 NCAA Division II National Championship, won the 2008 GLIAC Championship, and returned four of its top five golfers.
Mailloux joined the Laker program after a four-year stint as head coach at St. Leo in Florida. While at St. Leo, she guided the Lions to five top-10 finishes during the 2007-08 season, including three top-5 finishes. During her tenure, St. Leo competed in what is widely regarded as perhaps the best women's golf conference in the country. In 2008, five of the top seven schools in the final Division II Golf Coaches Association poll were from the Sunshine State Conference.
A 2001 graduate of South Florida, Mailloux spent two years on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Futures Tour. She totaled a career-best 15th place finish at the Denver Futures Classic, shooting a 220 (74-74-72). Mailloux gained full exemption status in her second year on the tour. While at South Florida, she played at No. 3 on the golf team and helped the Bulls win the Conference USA championship twice and reach the NCAA Tournament during her junior and senior years.
She attended Longwood College in her first two collegiate seasons, winning medalist honors at the Longwood Invitational as a freshman.
A native of West Warwick, R.I., Mailloux was the Rhode Island women's amateur champion from 1996 to 2000, finished second in the Massachusetts Open in 2001, returning in 2003 to win the championship. She was voted the 2002 Rhode Island female athlete of the year.
