Madison Reporter

The Madison College Athletic Department has announced the addition of a women's golf program, marking its tenth varsity athletic program. This new initiative will commence in the 2026-27 season and will be led by Chris Soulier, who is currently the head coach for men's golf. Recruitment for this program is set to begin in the 2025-26 season. The women's golf team will be the fifth all-female sports program at Madison College.

"Madison College Athletics is thrilled to be adding our tenth sport, women's golf, to our intercollegiate offerings in 2026-27," stated Jason Verhelst, Director of Athletics. "The NJCAA Sport Opportunity Grant from the NJCAA Foundation is providing the seed money necessary for us to get the sport off the ground and to recruit our first class of women's golfers."

The new team will compete in Division II of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), which will have its own division starting in 2025. The growth of women’s golf in Region 4 has been notable, and Madison College plans to compete against teams both within and outside this region, including those from NCAA and NAIA leagues. The Door Creek Golf Course in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, serves as their home course and practice facility.

Chris Soulier has also appointed his daughter, Samantha Soulier, as an assistant coach following her successful career at Waunakee High School and Minnesota State University-Mankato.

“There is a tremendous amount of talented female golfers throughout south-central Wisconsin and beyond,” said Soulier. “It’s exciting to think about the potential to provide opportunities for more student-athletes to compete for the WolfPack while continuing their education.”

This announcement marks another expansion since Madison College last added a sport with its Esports program during 2020-21 as a co-ed team; prior expansions included women’s soccer in 2014. Student-athletes are required to maintain full-time enrollment with access provided to academic advisors along with adherence to a code of conduct.

“The NJCAA Foundation is excited to further support the growth of NJCAA member colleges and the sport programs they offer through the NJCAA Sport Opportunity Grant,” said Andrew Givens, Executive Director of NJCAA Foundation. “The ability to provide this funding is a testament to the importance and growth of two-year collegiate athletics.”