Kelly Hovland

Kelly Hovland was named head coach of the University of Maryland women’s golf team on July 12, 2021, following a nationwide search. As of 2025, she is entering her fifth season leading the Terrapins. Since taking over, she has led Maryland to multiple top finishes, including five top-5 team placings in 2023-24 (with two second-place results) and a program record for lowest team total score at the Chevron Collegiate (835, or −29). Two of her players, Patricie Mackova and Nicha Kanpai, claimed individual event victories and garnered All-Big Ten honors under her guidance. Before Maryland, Hovland served for seven seasons (2012–19) as associate head coach at the U.S. Naval Academy, where she played a key role in building the women’s program. At Navy, she helped lead the team to its first Patriot League team title in 2017, along with back-to-back runner up finishes. She also acted as an assistant and teaching professional at the United States Naval Academy Golf Club, providing instruction to members, midshipmen, and the public. As a collegiate player, Hovland competed four years at Southern Illinois (SIU), winning the 2004 Missouri Valley Conference individual title, helping lead Missouri Valley Conference team titles, and earning MVC All-Conference honors each year. She graduated from SIU with a bachelor’s degree in political science (2006) and later obtained a Master of Public Administration (2010).