University of Illinois Springfield Athletics

Nichole Inkel is in her third year as head women's golf coach at UIS.
 
Inkel took over the program in the spring of 2009 and has led it to unprecedented heights.
 
Under tutelage the Prairie Stars have set the school record for team scores three times and finished eighth at the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship in 2011, the program’s highest finish. Individually under Inkel Pagie Luker has set the school record for lowest round by carding a 76.
 
Before coming to UIS Inkel was the girl’s golf coach at Chatham’s Glenwood High School from 2001-09. During her tenure she led the Titans to six conference championships, a pair of undefeated seasons, a regional championship and the title of the only Sangamon County Tournament ever held.
 
She has also served as an assistant girls’ basketball coach at Glenwood for three seasons.
 
As a player, Inkel has experienced a tremendous amount of success on the links.
 
As a prep athlete at Springfield High School, she qualified for the state tournament and finished in the top ten as an individual in each of her four years. Inkel was also a member of the 1984 and 1985 Senator teams that finished as the state runner-up.
 
Along with her outstanding prep career, Inkel has been a four-time Springfield City Champion and 14-time runner-up, a four-time Central Illinois Amateur champion, 12-time Club Champion at Illini Country Club, eight-time Central Illinois Country Club Association Champion, four-time Edgewood Open Champion and four-time Shambolee Open Champion.
 
Nichole holds the women's course record of 67 at The Rail Golf Course and has posted the women's lowest score in The Round the Town Tournament with a 64.
 
A pioneer in the Central Illinois golf community, Inkel became the first female to qualify for the boy’s championship flight in the Drysdale tournament as a prep and became the first woman to play in State Farm Rail Shoot out and first participant to have a "hole-in-one."


Along with her coaching duties with the Prairie Stars, Inkel also works with intercollegiate athletic development.

Inkel has two daughters, Ashley and Joelie, and a son, Ryan.