WESTERVILLE, Ohio - The University of Mount Union Women's Golf Coaching staff has been named the 2025 Coaching Staff of the Year, as voted on by the league coaches. In addition, Bill Kirkwood has been recognized posthumously with the Coach of the Year Award, in acknowledgment of his remarkable contributions to the University of Mount Union and its Men's and Women's golf programs.

The Purple Raiders are led by Jenna Lisic, in her first year as Interim Head Men's & Women's Golf Coach, and assisted by Ian Smith and Benjamin Zimmerman. Lisic took leadership of the golf programs after the passing of former head coach Bill Kirkwood in September of 2024.

Kirkwood joined the Mount Union community in 2014. He took over as head golf coach of both the men's and women's golf teams for several years while taking the women's team to nationals three years in a row. At the height of Bill's career with Mount Union, he was taken ill and was diagnosed at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus with CLL/SLL, a form of lymphoma/leukemia. Even while receiving treatment at Summa Akron City, he continued to coach on a daily basis. Earlier this year, CNS, another rare form of lymphoma/leukemia, struck. In only a few short months, Bill lost his fight.

This season, Lisic guided the Purple Raiders to four top-five finishes, highlighted by capuring the OAC Women's Golf Championship at River Greens G.C. for the first time since 2019. All five golfers earned All-OAC honors, which is just the second time in school history that all five golfers finished in the top-14.

Graduate student Jocelyn Troyer led the charge for Mount Union, finishing second overall with an impressive four-round total of 315 (75-76-88-76). Senior Madison Gruber secured a sixth-place finish with a consistent performance, posting a 338 (81-86-86-85). Sophomore Kamil Stephens also earned a top-10 spot, placing eighth with a total score of 341 (80-92-85-84). Sophomore Emma Packard tied for tenth, carding a 345 (96-82-84-83), while sophomore Amanda Fedor capped off a strong showing with a twelfth-place finish and a total of 347 (84-85-91-87).

The team advanced to the NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, VA, where Jocelyn Troyer once again led the way. After making the cut as an individual, Troyer competed in the final two rounds of the championship, ultimately finishing 26th overall. She capped off her performance with a final-round score of 77, bringing her four-round total to 301—breaking the school record she previously set at last season’s OAC Tournament. Troyer became the first Purple Raider to make the cut at the NCAA Championship since 2012, and just the third in program history.