St. Catherine University is adding a varsity golf team in the fall of 2011, and Athletic Director Eric Stacey announced the hiring of a dynamic leader to get the program started. Kristine Wessinger will be the first golf coach in SCU history, and she will start the work of developing a strong program immediately.

Coach Wessinger joins the Wildcats after spending eight years coaching at the University of Minnesota. Wessinger, who began as an assistant, moved into an associate head coaching role during her tenure with the Gophers. She was responsible for recruiting and player development, and under Wessinger's tutelage, the 2009-2010 Gophers recorded the best average team score in school history. Wessinger also guided an NCAA qualifier and coached her to the lowest single season and career average in U of M history.

Eric Stacey said of the hiring, "I am really excited that we were able to find someone with such great coaching experience and energy to start our program. Her experience at the University of Minnesota and her desire to move back into the MIAC, where she played as a student-athlete, made her a perfect fit. I am confident Kris will develop a strong team at St. Kate's."

Wessinger's impressive coaching credentials are matched by her abilities as a golfer. As a student-athlete at the University of St. Thomas Kristine was an MIAC champion, competed at the Division III national championships twice, earned three MIAC all-conference awards, was the St. Thomas player of the year three times and earned three Academic Achievement Awards.

Kristine and her husband Nick live in Minneapolis.