CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois women's golf head coach Renee Slone announced the signing of Lisa Copeland on Friday morning. Copeland will join the Fighting Illini from Naperville, Illinois, for the 2026-27 season.
Copeland's Highlights: 2025 Rolex Scholastic Junior All-America Honors; 2025 College Board National Recognition Program honoree; Runner-Up, 2025 AJGA New Orleans Classic; Champion, 2024 AJGA Discover Puerto Rico Junior Championship; Champion, 2022 Medinah Invitational; Was the youngest in Illinois history to qualify for the Girls Junior PGA Championship in 2021.
Why Illinois? "Before even getting to Illinois, I really felt a connection to Coach Slone and Coach Pina, because they watched me at tournaments throughout my junior career. During my official visit, I was impressed by their knowledge and dedication to the players, and I am excited to learn from them and work at getting better everyday. Academics are also very important to me and Illinois is a great institution. Illinois having one of the best on-campus practice facilities was the icing on the cake."
Slone's Take: "We first saw Lisa compete when she was just ten years old! It has been so fun to follow her progress and watch her grow and develop as a player and a person. She has had outstanding coaching leading to a well-developed golf IQ and an arsenal of shots that enable her to score from anywhere."
