James Earle begins his 13th season as head coach of the UMSL women’s golf team going into the 2015-16 campaign.
During his tenure, he has directed the program to six straight NCAA Regional Tournament appearances and has coached two players at the NCAA Championships.
The 2014-15 team made the program's sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, finishing fifth at the East Regional. During the season, the Tritons won four team titles and earned a runner-up finish at the GLVC Championships en route to nine top-five finishes during the season.
The 2013-14 team made the program’s fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, while sophomore Tayler Hoag advanced to the NCAA Championship as an individual. As a team, UMSL won four team titles and posted eight top-five finishes.
The 2012-13 team tied for sixth place in its fourth straight NCAA Regional Tournament appearance, while senior Shweta Galande advanced to her third NCAA Championship under Earle’s direction. During the season, UMSL recorded nine top-five finishes as a team, including a runner-up finish at the GLVC Championship.
During the 2011-12 season, UMSL recorded its third straight NCAA Regional Tournament appearance and posted seven top-five finishes as a team.
Earle led the 2010-11 team to another NCAA Regional Tournament appearance, where the Tritons finished sixth as a team. Individually, sophomore Shweta Galande earned her second straight trip to the NCAA Championships, placing 30th in all of NCAA Division II. During the season, UMSL posted five team victories and finished in the top five in nine tournaments. The Tritons also record a second place finish at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament – the program’s highest. Galande earned GLVC medalist honors, while freshman Daniela Viotti was the league’s Player and Freshman of the Year.
During the 2009-10 season, Earle led UMSL to the program’s first-ever NCAA Regional Tournament appearance. The Tritons placed sixth as a team, while individually freshman Shweta Galande earned a bid to the NCAA Championships, placing in a tie for 27th place in all of NCAA Division II.
For his efforts, he was also named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Coach of the Year. Earle helped UMSL to three tournament titles and 10 top-five team finishes during the year, including a fifth place showing in the GLVC Tournament, which tied its highest-ever finish. Under his direction, Galande was also named GLVC Freshman of the Year.
During the 2008-09 season, he coached Amie Koerner to the NCCA Championships East Regional, where she finished just one stroke shy of a bid to the National Championships.
The 2005-06 season also proved to be a successful one for Earle, with his squad earning a top-three finish in seven of 11 tournaments. The team also had a fifth-place finish in the GLVC Championships in 2005-06, it’s highest finish ever since joining the conference.
Earle graduated from SIU Edwardsville in 2001 with a degree in history and a minor in political science. He also earned an associates of science degree from Lewis and Clark Community College. Earle is a graduate of Hazelwood Central High School and currently resides in Alton, Ill., with his wife Tracy, and their son Gaven.
