DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – MSU Denver golf coach Stef Ferguson was recently named Coach of the Year by the LPGA Professionals for its 2024 global awards.

Other winners were Janean Murphy of Ballwin, Mo., teacher of the year; Marci Bozarth of Houston, professional of the year; and Courtney Mahon of Lenexa, Kan., junior golf leader of the year.

The LPGA Professionals membership's Executive Committee selected the global award winners from the pool of Section Award winners voted on by officers of the six regional sections: Central, International, Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Western.

The LPGA Professionals Coach of the Year Award was established in 1980 and is awarded annually to an LPGA Professionals member who is actively engaged in teaching and/or coaching golf at the collegiate or high school level.
 
Ferguson is an LPGA/PGA Class A and Titleist Performance Institute certified instructor who has served as the coach at MSU Denver for the last seven years. Her drive for coaching stems from her experience and passion for the game, after serving as team captain of her golf team at Colorado State and qualifying to play in an LPGA major event at Locust Hills in 2013.
 
A healthy work-life balance is key to her student-athletes' success on and off the golf course. During her time as head coach, the team has recorded the lowest single round in school history, best team scoring average for the year in program history, and this year alone, all five starters had a personal best score.

Not only does she drive for success in performance from her athletes but she also encourages community service hours contributing a combined team effort of 125 hours this year.
 
Ferguson has been involved with the LPGA for years serving as a Member of the National Education Committee and as Secretary for the Central Section since 2023. She has been recognized with many awards for her contributions. In 2023, she was named LPGA Central Section Teacher of the Year and was the winner of the 2020 Colorado PGA Player Development Award. Most notable was her recognition as Golf Digest Best Young Teacher from 2021-2024.
 
"To be honored as the LPGA Professionals Coach of the Year is truly humbling," Ferguson said. "I have been so fortunate to work with the best student-athletes to help them accomplish their goals both on and off the course. Congratulations to each of the other award winners. They are all industry leaders and have set the bar higher for what LPGA Professionals can aspire to be. This recognition means the world to me, and I feel lucky to get to do what I love every day."