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Golf coach named Southeast Coach of the Year

Tuesday, Sep 25, 2012
Joseph Hunter

Coach Christa Teno poses with the national runner-up Seminole State College of Florida Women's Golf team. Teno was recently named the LPGA Southeast Section Coach of the Year.

Christa Teno

Even months after its historic 2012 season, Seminole State College of Florida’s women's golf program is garnering national recognition – this time for its coaching.

Raider Head Coach Christa Teno was recently named the Ladies Professional Golfers Association’s (LPGA) 2012 Southeast Section Coach of the Year.

The Coach of the Year awards, which are granted by the LPGA’s Teaching and Club Professional membership, are open to coaches currently active in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

“It reflects the quality and dedication Coach Teno puts forth in making the women's golf program here at Seminole State respected across the nation,” says John Scarpino, director of athletics. “She works hard to represent our College and our athletics department.”

This award comes on the heels of Seminole State’s first-ever NJCAA Region 8 Championship and its subsequent finish as nationwide runner-up at the NJCAA National Championship in May. The Raiders defeated two-time defending national champion and in-state rival Daytona State College to win the Region 8 Championship, then outshot Daytona State and perennial powerhouse Western Texas Community College to earn national runner-up honors.

“In its five-year history, our Women’s Golf team has finished fourth in the nation twice, third once, and now No. 2,” Scarpino says. “It’s pretty awesome.”

As the Southeast Section’s Coach of the Year recipient, Teno is eligible for consideration to be named National Coach of the Year. She is up against the four regional winners for the Northeast, Midwest, Central and Western sections or the honor.

“It’s amazing to receive this award for doing something I love – coaching,” says Teno. “My life is blessed. I want to thank all the kids I’ve coached as well: They have been my teachers.”

Teno also earned regional honors in 2008 after leading the Lady Raiders to a No. 4 national finish following the program’s inaugural season.

Teno’s career highlights as a player include being named North Texas State Female Athlete of the Year (1985); participating in the U.S. Women’s Open (1988) and the LPGA Tour (1989-91, 1996); accruing 19 top-10 finishes on the Gold Coast Tour (1994-95); participating in the Southeast Section LPGA Tournament (third place in 1998 and 2006, second in 1999) and winning the team championship (1998-2000); and winning the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional National Championship (1998).

To find more information about Christa Teno or the Seminole State Women’s Golf team, including schedule and results, visit the Women’s Golf website.