ELON – Elon women's golf head coach Chris Dockrill has announced his retirement following nearly three decades at the program's helm.
Dockrill '86, a member of the Elon Sports Hall of Fame as a men's golf student-athlete, became the women's golf head coach in 1999 and guided Elon to more than 25 tournament victories and 22 top-five finishes at conference championship events. He was named conference coach of the year twice during his career, earning honors in the Big South Conference in 2000 and the Southern Conference in 2007.
"Chris has given so much to this institution, as a student-athlete, as a coach, and as someone who genuinely cared about the young women who came through our golf program," Elon Director of Athletics Jenn Strawley said. "I am deeply grateful for his dedication to Elon, the lasting impact he has had on so many student-athletes, and all he has done for Elon Golf. I wish him nothing but the best in this next chapter."
Since Elon joined the Coastal Athletic Association in 2014-15, Dockrill's teams captured 12 tournament titles and recorded 58 top-five finishes. The Phoenix made an immediate impact in the league, finishing second at the 2015 conference championship while winning three tournaments during the season. Dockrill coached seven All-CAA performers to 13 total all-conference honors and mentored multiple standouts, including Heather Munro and Kelsey Badmaev, the program's only four-time all-conference selections during the NCAA Division I era.
Prior to Elon's transition to the CAA, Dockrill's teams earned 13 all-conference selections in the SoCon and recorded eight top-five finishes at the league championship. His squads also posted consistent results during Elon's time in the Big South, finishing fourth or better at the conference championship in each of the program's four seasons in the league.
His tenure also coincided with the continued growth of the program's facilities, including the opening of the W. Cecil Worsley III Golf Training Center in 2009 and, more recently, the debut of Holland House, Elon's new golf clubhouse, earlier this month.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have coached at Elon and want to thank Dr. Alan White, Dave Blank and Jenn Strawley for their support over the years," Dockrill said. "A special thank you goes to Bill Morningstar and Don Hill. They have been outstanding golf directors to work for and alongside, and I've truly valued those relationships. What I'll take with me most are the connections with the student-athletes and colleagues who made this experience so meaningful."
Prior to taking leadership of Elon's women's golf program, Dockrill spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the men's team under Morningstar, the legendary Phoenix head coach he played for from 1984-86. Dockrill earned both All-America and Academic All-America honors following his senior year in 1986. He helped lead the Elon men to a fourth-place finish at the 1986 NAIA National Tournament, where he placed fifth individually.
A national search for Elon's next women's golf head coach will begin immediately.
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