Sammie Chergo, who coached the University of Denver women’s team to sixth- and fifth-place finishes in the NCAA finals in 2008 and ’09, respectively, last week resigned as head coach of the Oregon State women’s squad after two seasons.
Chergo, who coached DU for 15 years before departing in 2013, said in an email Monday that she opted to leave Oregon State “to get back home closer to my family. … It was a difficult decision to make as we have really been having some fun growing the program and changing the culture.”
Except for the last two years, Chergo (pictured) has lived her entire life in Colorado.
Oregon State, which recently placed 10th in the 11-team Pac-12 Conference women’s tournament, posted two top-three team finishes this season. In 2014, the Beavers won Chergo’s first tournament as the OSU head coach. They are currently ranked 67th among the nation’s Division I teams, according to Golfstat.
As for the future, Chergo, a Denver native and former Colorado State University golfer, wrote Monday, “I will always be a coach and administrator at heart and I am sure those skills will lead me somewhere in Colorado.”
Former DU golfer Dawn Shockley, a Colorado native who grew up in the Centennial State, will serve as the interim head coach for Oregon State while the school conducts a search to find Chergo’s replacement.
Meanwhile, current DU coach Lindsay Kuhle announced Monday that Sonya Knebel of Germany will join the Pioneers’ roster for the 2016-17 season. Knebel is transferring to DU from Augusta (Ga.) University.
