In her 14 years as Northern Illinois University (NIU) Head Women’s Golf Coach, Kim Kester has led her players to record-breaking performances on the course and to academic honors as well. Kester told Rotarians this week how she got hired just as fall classes were getting ready to start but jumped right in and methodically worked to build a highly competitive team on the links and also expanded recruiting at both the national and international level. For example, the Huskie’s leading player at their most recent tournament is from Toronto, Canada.
Kester says it is people that make her want to stay at NIU. Although she added that the ability to have the championship Rich Harvest Farms golf course in Sugar Grove as their home course is a special added benefit. Kester knows about quality golf settings having grown up in Michigan and winning a variety of championship recognitions. She earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Toledo, was a star player for the University, and then came back to help coach at her alma mater before coming to NIU. As a player, she has five “hole-in-one’s” to her credit.
Kester admits she has concerns about the new “portal” system for student athletes, saying the transfer options, extra payments it allows, plus ways to add a year to eligibility devalue education and cause loss of school loyalty. She said that a competitor university pays an additional $350-thousand to two women golfers beyond traditional scholarships. Kester noted that sponsorship of individual athletes is also possible with recognition on parts of helmets and jerseys.