JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- Jacksonville University Senior Vice President and Athletic Director Alex Ricker-Gilbert announced Jessica Welch as the new leader of the women's golf program. Welch is a Jacksonville alumna, playing for the Dolphins from 2011-15 and being named to the Jacksonville Hall of Fame in 2023.
"We are excited to welcome Jessica Welch back to Jacksonville University as our next head women's golf coach," Ricker-Gilbert said. "After a Hall of Fame career as a Dolphin and a successful run playing on the Epson Tour, Coach Welch knows what it takes to succeed as a student-athlete at this university and beyond. A long list of accolades — both athletic and academic — speak volumes to her time at Jacksonville and we are ecstatic to see where she can take our program long into the future."
Welch is one of the most accomplished players in JU women's golf history. She was named ASUN Golfer of the Year in 2015, the only player in program history to earn that title. She also won ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year that same season, recognizing her outstanding achievements on the course and as a student.
In addition, Welch was the first player in program history to earn an individual bid to the NCAA Championships. She is a three-time All-ASUN honoree, earning first-team honors twice. She won two tournaments in her college career.
"I couldn't be more excited to be able to come home again," Welch said. "My time at JU as a student-athlete were four of the best years of my life, and my main objective as a coach will be to ensure that my players have the same experience. What inspired me so much about this opportunity was speaking with some of the student-athletes and hearing how much passion and drive they have for their school, their sport and their teammates. You can't help but get excited when you talk to people who already have that mentality. It's infectious. I truly believe that the sky is the limit for this team, and it's a blessing to be able to serve as their launch pad. The game of golf has given me so much over the last 25 years, and now I have the opportunity to give something back to it. I can think of no better place to do that than the university that helped mold me into who I am today. Go 'Phins!"
In her post-JU career, Welch has found success in professional golf. She's played on the LPGA Epson Tour since 2017, earning five career Top 10s. She's had success in other professional golf events as well, including winning back-to-back Michigan PGA Championships in 2024 and 2025. She qualified for and competed in the U.S. Women's Open in 2017.
Welch inherits a program coming off an 11th place finish at the ASUN Championship last season. The Dolphins have competed in women's golf since the 1985-86 season. The program's best ASUN finish is fourth, an accomplishment achieved on six occasions, most recently in 2018.
Welch was originally recruited to Jacksonville by current men's golf head coach Mike Blackburn, who coached both the men's and women's program from 2008-11. He's now joined back at JU by his former player.
"Jessica is a JU Hall of Fame golfer with a lot of successful experience on the Epson Professional Tour and is passionate about elevating the JU Women's Golf program," Blackburn said. "I believe she is going to deliver a very positive experience for the student-athletes."
Welch is just one of two women's golfers in the Jacksonville University Hall of Fame, joining Joanne Roberts. After finishing her career as a Dolphin student-athlete, Welch served as a graduate assistant for the program during the 2015-16.
Her list of accolades includes WGCA All-American Scholar and All-ASUN Academic honors during her senior season. During the 2013 Championship, Welch shot an opening round 67, one of just four golfers in the 36-year history of the league to do so. In 2015, Welch shot a 66 in the third round of the Cincinnati Invite which stands today tied as the lowest round in program history.
Across her time in Duval County, Welch made two All-ASUN Academic teams, two ASUN All-Tournament Teams and was named Golfer of the Week four different times --- more than any other ASUN golfer during her time in college.
