"Todd has an exceptional background as both a playing and teaching professional, and he has an incredible record of success in intercollegiate golf," Dooley said. "He's an extremely personable young man who made a great impression on the (search) committee with his passion for the game of golf. I'm confident he will continue the great tradition established by Beans (Kelly) and Liz Murphey."

Arizona's national championship this spring is the most impressive in a long list of achievements McCorkle and his teams have attained. Since entering the collegiate coaching ranks in 1993 at Florida, he has been a member of staffs which, all told, have won two NCAA titles and seven conference championships.

"I feel like this is an incredible opportunity to join one of the nation's premier programs, which features possibly the best practice facilities of any school in the nation," McCorkle said. "It's also a chance for me to get back to the SEC, where I feel very comfortable."

McCorkle has been at Arizona for three years, arriving in 1997 as associate head coach for both the men's and women's teams before being promoted to head women's coach after one season. During his tenure, the women's team finished third and fourth at the 1998 and '99 NCAA Championships, respectively, in addition to winning the national title in May. Also, the Wildcats captured Pac-10 and NCAA West Regional Championships in 1999 and 2000 after finishing as runner-up at both events in 1998.

Arizona's NCAA title this spring capped one of the successful seasons in collegiate women's golf history. The Wildcats won nine tournaments during the campaign, including a school-record eight straight to end the season. Individually, Arizona's Jenna Daniels and Julia Kraschinski finished 1-2 at the NCAAs and all five Wildcats finished among the nation's top-30 golfers in the final MasterCard rankings. McCorkle was named National Coach of the Year by Golfweek, as well as Pac-10 Coach of the Year.

Prior to his stint at Arizona, McCorkle was head men's and women's golf coach at Coastal Carolina University in 1996-97, where he led the men to their first Big South Conference Championship in nine years and was named Big South Conference Coach of the Year. McCorkle's collegiate coaching career began at the University of Florida, where he served as assistant men's coach from 1993-96 and was also interim women's head coach in 1994. McCorkle helped the men's team capture the 1993 NCAA Championship and four straight SEC titles.

After graduating from UNC-Charlotte with a degree in psychology in 1986, McCorkle worked as a professional at Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, Fla., and then held similar positions at Orlando's International Golf Club and Lake Nona Golf Club. He has been a golf instructor at the Golfweek Academy, in addition to other teaching venues. McCorkle also played seven years on the Florida mini-tours before gaining exempt status on the Ben Hogan Tour (now the Buy.com Tour) in 1991 and '92, and he caddied on the PGA Tour for Russ Cochran during that time.

McCorkle becomes only the third head coach ever for the Georgia women's golf program, following Murphey and Kelly. The Lady Bulldogs own one of the nation's premier traditions, posting 14 top-10 finishes at the national championships since 1979, including runner-up efforts in 1981 and 1999. Georgia has produced three individual national champions -- Terri Moody (1981 AIAW), Cindy Schreyer (1984 NCAA) and Vicki Goetze (1992 NCAA). In addition, the Lady Dogs have won a league-best eight Southeastern Conference titles.

The exclusive facilities utilized by the Georgia golf program, the Boyd Golf Center, are among the best in the nation and are located adjacent to the 18th green at the UGA Golf Course. In the fall of 1997, Georgia christened a $1.2 million practice facility featuring multiple tees, greens, wedge play and bunker areas. In the spring of 1999, the Lady Bulldogs and Bulldogs moved into their $600,000 clubhouse, which includes locker rooms, a players' lounge, coaches' offices, meeting rooms and computer work stations.

McCorkle inherits a strong nucleus for his first season in Athens, including Laura Henderson, who tied for seventh individually at the NCAA Championships, Angela Jerman and Lauren Jeske. Additionally, Reilley Rankin and Summer Sirmons, who were playing regulars during the 1998-99 season but missed last season due to injuries, also are expected to return to the course this fall, along with incoming signees Whitney Christie and Liz Stuart.