Eva Dean Folkert, director of women's athletics at Hope College , has been named the women's golf coach.

Eva Dean Folkert, director of women's athletics at Hope College , has been named the women's golf coach.

She succeeds Tom Smith who served as head coach for four years. Smith, who is an associate professor of management, resigned in order to devote more time to his academic responsibilities, according to Ray Smith, director of men's athletics who oversees the men's and women's golf programs.

Folkert, who is an assistant professor of kinesiology, will be concluding her responsibilities as athletic ticket manager this fall.

Smith guided the Flying Dutch to the MIAA championship in 2001. Hope was league runner-up in 2002 and 2003 and a year ago ended seventh.

Folkert joined the Hope staff in 1985. She has held positions in the public relations and registrar offices. In 1997 she joined the kinesiology staff, serving as assistant director of the intramural sports program until 2003 when she was named senior woman administrator. She was promoted to director of women's athletics this past spring.

She graduated from Hope in 1983 and received the master of arts in sport management from Western Michigan University this past spring.

Last spring she was presented the college's Vanderbush-Weller Development Fund award for her strong, positive impact on students.

She and her husband, Cal, live in Holland with their two sons, Peter and Matt.

"We are grateful for Tom Smith's able and caring leadership," said Ray Smith. "The women's golf program will remain in good hands. Eva is a true sports person as well as an avid golfer."