Sports
Darla Kirby named Associate Athletic Director for UMHB
Saturday, 23 June 2012 by Keith Bahlmann
Darla KirbyUniversity of Mary Hardin-Baylor women's golf coach Darla Kirby has been promoted to Associate Athletic Director. UMHB Vice-President for Athletics Randy Mann made the announcement, stating that Kirby will handle all compliance duties and will also assist Mann with a variety of administrative responsibilities in her new role.
Kirby's promotion closes out her highly successful 16-year run as head coach of the Cru women's golf team. She started the UMHB women's golf program in 1996 and won the school's only national championship, the 2000 NAIA National title. Under her leadership, the program has won nine American Southwest Conference Championships and made 12 national Tournament appearances.
Kirby was named NAIA Women's Golf Coach of the Year in 2000, was NGCA Regional Coach of the Year five times and earned ASC Women's Golf Coach of the Year recognition nine times.
"I must admit that I have some mixed emotions about making this move," Kirby said. "I will truly miss having golf as part of my daily life but I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Randy Mann and all of our athletic department staff. I've always wanted to go into full-time administration and this is the perfect opportunity to make the change."
