Golf Names Paola Cortes-Ortiz Assistant Coach

After spending the past two seasons elevating the UTRGV men’s and women’s golf teams, Paola Cortes-Ortiz is set to join the Missouri men’s and women’s golf programs as an assistant coach.

Since joining the Vaqueros in 2021, Cortes-Ortiz helped the programs to multiple record milestones. With the women’s team in 2022-23, UTRGV posted the lowest team scoring average in school history – improving its average by 5.62 strokes in just one season. The Vaqueros added 36-hole and 54-hole records at their home tournament, while collecting three top-three finishes to start the spring season.

Cortes-Ortiz also helped the men’s team capture the 2023 Big Texan Championship, while the program improved its ranking by 56 spots in the national GolfStat standings as she served as interim head coach during the 2022 spring season.

“Upon arriving to campus and meeting Coach Glen, Coach Caroline, Coach Sean and Coach Cabe, I immediately felt the vision they have to continue elevating the golf programs, thus, making it a very exciting time to join the coaching staff,” Cortes-Ortiz said. “I’ve only heard great things about the players and their team culture so I am looking forward to serving a new group of talented student-athletes very soon.”

“We are extremely excited to have Paola on board with us starting next semester,” said Missouri women’s golf head coach Caroline Westrup. “She brings coaching experience as well as her own playing experience and has worked with both men and women, which is great. The most important thing is that she shares our vision for the programs and will be a huge asset to our coaching staffs.”

The Vaqueros also excelled off the course during Cortes Ortiz’s time with the programs. The women’s team was named the school’s Academic Team of the Year and the Community Service Team of the Year for the 2021-22 campaign, while the men’s team finished with the highest GPA in 2022-23 with a 3.87 grade point average.

“Joining a coaching staff with unique backgrounds and new ideas is something that really excites me about this position,” Cortes-Ortiz said. “I am very grateful to Coach Caroline and Coach Glen for seeking me out and believing in my ability to aid in leading Mizzou Golf to new heights.”

Originally from Allen, Texas, Cortes-Ortiz played four seasons at Stephen F. Austin, where she competed in 96 rounds with two top-20 and one top-10 finishes. She is also a member of the Puerto Rico women’s program and represented the national team at the Puerto Rico Island Championship and Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship.