NEMCC to debut Women’s Golf team in 2025-26 year with Leigh Treloar as inaugural coach

The Lady Tigers will begin intercollegiate competition during the 2025-26 school year.

After successfully reinstating the men’s program over the last five years, Northeast Mississippi Community College is doubling down on its offerings for local athletes to succeed on the links. During the 2025-26 academic year, Northeast will officially debut its women’s golf team. The Lady Tigers will be classified as a Division I affiliate inside the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

“We believe that the values of teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship that are integral to golf align perfectly with the core principles of our college,” said Northeast president Dr. Ricky Ford. “This decision reflects our continuing commitment to providing opportunities for all students to excel both academically and athletically.”  This brings the total number of varsity sports at Northeast up to 13.

Leigh Treloar, a well-respected on-campus figure, is returning to her roots to serve as the inaugural head coach of Northeast’s women’s golf program. Treloar comes with the intentions of establishing a winning culture within the program. Northeast athletes have broken numerous school records over the last four years with Treloar overseeing their classwork. Eight different sports have received National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Academic Team honors as well.

“We expect great achievements from our women’s golf team under coach Treloar’s leadership,” said Northeast president Dr. Ricky Ford. “With a background coaching in the SEC, her experience and expertise will undoubtedly benefit our team.”

Treloar was previously an assistant at Mississippi State University for the better part of a decade from 2010-18. She will also maintain her current duties as one of Northeast’s student-athlete success coaches, using the next year to piece together her initial roster plus build relationships with local courses and high school coaches.

“My time here at Northeast has been special and so now I’m looking forward to continuing that,” Treloar said. “I’m here to win. There’s nothing like being competitive on the golf course, so I’m really looking forward to it. I was really fortunate to have people that poured into me and when I became a coach that’s what I loved because I knew those influences and what they had done for me. So I want to give back to others. We’ve just got to build that foundation and do it the right way.”

“We are excited to add yet another sport and opportunity for student-athletes to continue their education,” Northeast athletic director Kent Farris said. “Women’s golf is a natural addition when you look at the increased participation within Mississippi’s high schools.”

Fifteen of the 22 high schools in Northeast’s traditional service area, which includes Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union counties, are fielding women’s golf during the current classification cycle that runs from 2023-25.

In addition, in-district school New Albany has captured three consecutive Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) state championships

Men’s and women’s golf follow identical rules in the NJCAA. Each program is allowed to enter five players at each tournament with the top four results counting towards the overall team score.  The regular season is split evenly between the fall and spring semesters. The postseason features region and national competitions that take place annually between the months of April and May.

 -Story based on information from:

Blake Long, NEMCC Sports Information

More information on Leigh Treloar: