After just one year at the helm of the ASU women's golf program, head coach Mickey Yokoi is going back to the men's program.
Yokoi was men's coach Randy Lein's assistant for five years before taking over for former women's coach Linda Vollstedt last August. Vollstedt retired in 2001, citing injuries from a 1997 golf cart accident as the reason.
In a prepared statement released by ASU, Yokoi said he was returning to the men's golf program in order to satisfy his own career goals.
"I wanted to re-direct my career," Yokoi said. "It is in the best interest of both programs for me to make this switch as soon as possible so that both teams can be ready for the 2002-2003 season."
While Yokoi's only season at the helm of the women's program saw the team finish in the top 10 of all 12 of its tournaments, the team failed to win a single tournament title. ASU finished the season last month at the NCAA Championships with its first top 10 finish since 1999.
"A national search will begin immediately," said Don Bocchi, ASU's Associate Director of Athletics. "We expect to create tremendous interest within the golf community as we search for a head coach."
Reach Al Stevens at al.stevens@asu.edu.
