Pack Adds Courtney Gunter as Women’s Golf Assistant Coach – NC State University Athletics

RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State head women’s golf coach Darby Sligh announced Thursday that Courtney Gunter has joined her staff as an assistant coach. Gunter joins the Wolfpack after serving as the head coach at Western Carolina since 2018.

“Courtney mirrors the values we hold dear in our program,” said Sligh. “She is a relentless competitor, leads through relationships, and is passionate about digging in and doing the work it takes to compete for championships. She has a wealth of experience as both a head and assistant coach and also knows what it takes to compete and play in the ACC. Her calm, confident energy will make an immediate impact on our players. It’s an exciting time to be a part of NC State athletics and we are excited to have her here.”

Under Gunter’s guidance, the Catamount program reached new heights, culminating with a return to the postseason in the spring of 2023. WCU won seven tournament titles since 2018 including a program-best four team titles in the 2022-23 season.

Gunter was named the 2023 Southern Conference Coach of the Year after three of her Catamount players – Brie Mapanao (73.63), Elizabeth Lohbauer (73.70), and Madison Isaacson (74.37) – broke the program’s single-season scoring record.. All three were named to the All-Southern Conference squad, while Mapanao was named the league’s Freshman of the Year. That squad posted five of the top six 54-hole team scores in program history and with the successful regular season, earned an at-large berth into the inaugural Golfweek National Golf Invitational (NGI) – the first postseason bid for the school since 2007.

Gunter came to Western Carolina after two seasons at Coastal Carolina from 2016-18. In 2018, Gunter helped lead the Chanticleers to their first-ever Sun Belt conference title. Four CCU golfers were named to the All-Sun Belt team, including three first-team selections, while senior Malene Krolboll Hansen was named the Sun Belt’s Golfer of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Prior to making the move to Coastal Carolina, Gunter was an assistant coach at East Carolina for three years while earning her masters in sport management. She helped lead the Pirates to NCAA Regional berths all three seasons she was at ECU.

“Huge thanks to Darby Sligh and Stephanie Menio for believing in me and giving me this opportunity,” said Gunter.  “After spending time with Darby, her energy, passion, and vision for this program is what completely sold me on wanting to be part of this team. I can’t wait to get started and help take NC State Golf to the next level! Go Pack!”

Gunter played collegiately at UNC (2009-2013), playing for a squad that won five team titles, recorded 20 top-five finishes, appeared in four NCAA regionals and advanced to two NCAA Championships.

In her sophomore season, UNC won the ACC title and finished tied for eighth at the NCAA Championship. She averaged a career-low 75.44 over 18 rounds in her second year as a collegian.

Gunter was a 2010 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-American, a 2010 All-ACC honoree and a two-time All-ACC Honor Roll member (2010, 2012). 

A native of Matthews, N.C., Gunter was a four-time all-conference selection and a three-time Player of the Year for Porter Ridge High School. Her high school won four consecutive conference championships and three state titles during her prep career.. As an amateur golfer, she won the 2011 Carolinas’ Amateur and was named the 2008 Carolina’s Golf Association Female Golfer of the Year.

Gunter earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and exercise sports science from UNC in May of 2013.