Brenda Howe, a former golfer at Eastern Washington University, enters her fourth year as head coach of the EWU women's golf team. She was appointed to the position entering the 2009-10 season.

While Eastern has finished eighth at the Big Sky Conference Championship for four-consecutive years, the total team score at the pinnacle event has improved in each of Howe's first three years at the helm.

Last season, the Eagles turned in a cumualtive effort of 950 (314-323-313), which was 16 strokes better than their score from the 2010 championsihp, and two better than that in 2011.

In fact, the 950 recorded at the 2012 Big Sky Championships was the best 54-hole effort for the Eagles in any tournament over the last three years.

In 2012, Howe's team earned a Public Recognition Award from the NCAA for posting a perfect Academic Progress Rate of 1,000. The EWU women's golf team was one of just 11 squads in the Big Sky to earn the award, and the only golf team honored.

In each of her first three years, Howe has had at least three players earn Big Sky All-Academic honors, and in 2010, all five members of the team were recognized on the list.

Highlighting Howe's second season as head coach was her team's performance at the Shocker Invitational in Newton, Kan. The team took third place overall after recording a total score of 616 (313-303). Eastern's second-round score of 303 marked the best single-round effort by an Eagle squad since 2008. Senior Kellie Holmstedt was named the Co-Big Sky Golfer of the Week following the event, as she took fourth on the individual leaderboard with a two-round total of 147 (75-72).

In the midst of her coaching responsiblities at EWU, Howe recently completed the necessary steps to become a registered apprentice in the PGA Professional Golf Management Program.

Howe brings to her first head coaching experience a wealth of knowledge gleaned from her time as a player as well as an assistant coach and golf instructor.

Most recently, she served as golf instructor for the past seven years at Indian Canyon and Downriver Golf Courses.

Previously, she acted as assistant men's and women's golf coach at Washington State from 1999-2001.

There, she recruited Kim Welch, a two-time National Golf Coaches Association All-American (2003 and 2004) who won 11 tournaments during her time as a Cougar. Welch also claimed the championship of the Golf Channel's "Big Break Ka'anapali" television series.

During Howe’s collegiate playing days, she twice earned All-Big Sky Conference honors (1995 and 1996), twice was named BSC Player of the Week (during the 1997 and 1998 seasons) and was twice honored by the Big Sky on its All-Academic team (1997 and 1998).

Her final year came under the tutelage of Marc Hughes, who was recently transitioned from that role into the position of associate director of athletics for development and the director of golf. He was Eastern's head coach the past 11 seasons.

"Marc has done a tremendous job for the program the past 11 years," Howe said. "I am honored to take over the reigns at my alma mater, and I look forward to taking the program to new heights."

Howe (formerly Hall) earned her bachelor's degree in recreation management in 1999. She is married to Chris Howe and they have two children - Lauren, 6, and Ryan, 4.