NCAT hires first ever female coach to lead men's program
North Carolina A&T State University, a proud HBCU, has named Mesha Levister as the new director of men's and women's golf. Director of Athletics Earl M. Hilton III announced the hire on Thursday. Levister is the third director in program history and the first woman to lead A&T's golf programs.
She also becomes the first female head coach of a men's varsity sport at A&T.
"I'm excited to return to my home state of North Carolina," Levister said. "Being close to family, friends, and coaching in the Triad-a great golf community-is an incredible opportunity. I'm honored to join North Carolina A&T and look forward to leading these teams with purpose, passion, and integrity."
Levister played golf at North Carolina Central University, another respected HBCU. She helped launch the women's golf program there in 2020. She later thrived at Prairie View A&M University. In 2023, she led the Panthers to a second-place finish at the SWAC Championship and earned SWAC Women's Golf Coach of the Year. She coached nine All-SWAC players and maintained a 3.1 GPA or higher for the men's team. This past season Prairie View A&M concluded the tournament with a team score of +144, placing them just behind leaders Alabama State, Southern, and Bethune-Cookman.
This spring, Prairie View also finished fourth in the prestigious PGA Works Collegiate Championships.
"Coach Levister is a trailblazer in the golf community," Hilton said. "We are thrilled to welcome her to Aggie Athletics."
Levister's golf journey began early. In 2004, she became the first African American to win the Virginia Women's Amateur. That same year, she was named VSGA Golfer of the Year. She later joined the LPGA Futures Tour and competed worldwide before moving into coaching.
"My coaching philosophy is built on service and accountability," Levister said. "I am committed to developing student-athletes on and off the course."
The post NCAT hires first ever female coach to lead men's program appeared first on HBCU Gameday.
Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
UFC 317 video: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira final faceoff for vacant title bout
LAS VEGAS – UFC 317 headliners Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira got a final chance to size each other up Friday before determining a new lightweight champion. Former featherweight titleholder Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) will take on former 155-pound kingpin Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) for the vacant strap left behind when Islam Makhachev agreed to move up to welterweight. There is history at stake for both sides, and the anticipated was palpable during their final encounter at ceremonial weigh-ins. There has been tension between Topuria and Oliveira throughout the week, and they were all business at the conclusive staredown in advance of Saturday's headliner, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Check out the video above to see the UFC 317 ceremonial weigh-in faceoff between Topuria and Oliveira.
San Francisco Chronicle
7 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Griffin Canning placed on the injured list by Mets after surgery to repair ruptured Achilles tendon
PITTSBURGH (AP) — New York Mets pitcher Griffin Canning had surgery on Friday to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of the season and possibly part of 2026. Canning was injured during Thursday night's 4-0 win over Atlanta while coming off the mound to field a grounder. Signed to a $4.25 million, one-year contract as a free agent in the offseason, the 29-year-old right-hander was 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 16 starts as he bolstered an injury-depleted rotation. Canning has had a turnaround season. Last year, with the Los Angeles Angels, he went 6-13 with a 5.19 ERA in 32 games. 'He is a guy that had a hard year last year and put in a lot of work in the offseason,' Mendoza said. 'We signed him, and he was very open to the information and the feedback and everything we had to offer. And for him to not just take the information but actually going out there and executing and having the year that he had, he was pretty consistent for us.' Third baseman Mark Vientos was reinstated from the 10-day injured list before Friday's series opener at Pittsburgh, left-handed reliever Colin Poche's contract was selected from Triple-A Syracuse and right-hander Blake Tidwell was recalled from Triple-A. Right-hander Austin Warren and infielder Jared Young were optioned to Triple-A. Tidwell will take Canning's place in the rotation for at least one turn. The rookie is expected to start next Wednesday in Milwaukee, though Mendoza would not commit to the 24-year-old beyond that start. Tidwell made his major-league debut on May 4 and went 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA in two starts. He pitched in 13 games with Syracuse and had a 4-4 record and 4.76 ERA. Vientos had been out since June 3 with a right hamstring strain. He is hitting .230 with six home runs in 51 games after belting 27 home runs last season and five more in the postseason as the Mets reached the National League Championship Series before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Brent Baty had been getting most of the starts at third base while Vientos was sidelined. The Mets also decided to keep infielder Ronny Mauricio, a rookie hitting .226 with three homers in 18 games. Mauricio is ranked as the Mets' fourth-best prospect by Baseball America. 'Mauricio can provide some versatility, and I like the way he has been playing for us of late,' Mendoza said. 'We feel there are going to be enough at-bats for him here to keep him on the roster.' Poche, 31, began the season with Washington but was released on May 5 after having an 11.42 ERA in 13 relief appearances. The Mets signed him two days later, and his ERA was 7.11 in 12 games at Syracuse. ___
Fox Sports
7 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Griffin Canning placed on the injured list by Mets after surgery to repair ruptured Achilles tendon
Associated Press PITTSBURGH (AP) — New York Mets pitcher Griffin Canning had surgery on Friday to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of the season and possibly part of 2026. Canning was injured during Thursday night's 4-0 win over Atlanta while coming off the mound to field a grounder. Signed to a $4.25 million, one-year contract as a free agent in the offseason, the 29-year-old right-hander was 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 16 starts as he bolstered an injury-depleted rotation. Canning has had a turnaround season. Last year, with the Los Angeles Angels, he went 6-13 with a 5.19 ERA in 32 games. 'He is a guy that had a hard year last year and put in a lot of work in the offseason,' Mendoza said. 'We signed him, and he was very open to the information and the feedback and everything we had to offer. And for him to not just take the information but actually going out there and executing and having the year that he had, he was pretty consistent for us.' Third baseman Mark Vientos was reinstated from the 10-day injured list before Friday's series opener at Pittsburgh, left-handed reliever Colin Poche's contract was selected from Triple-A Syracuse and right-hander Blake Tidwell was recalled from Triple-A. Right-hander Austin Warren and infielder Jared Young were optioned to Triple-A. Tidwell will take Canning's place in the rotation for at least one turn. The rookie is expected to start next Wednesday in Milwaukee, though Mendoza would not commit to the 24-year-old beyond that start. Tidwell made his major-league debut on May 4 and went 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA in two starts. He pitched in 13 games with Syracuse and had a 4-4 record and 4.76 ERA. Vientos had been out since June 3 with a right hamstring strain. He is hitting .230 with six home runs in 51 games after belting 27 home runs last season and five more in the postseason as the Mets reached the National League Championship Series before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Brent Baty had been getting most of the starts at third base while Vientos was sidelined. The Mets also decided to keep infielder Ronny Mauricio, a rookie hitting .226 with three homers in 18 games. Mauricio is ranked as the Mets' fourth-best prospect by Baseball America. 'Mauricio can provide some versatility, and I like the way he has been playing for us of late,' Mendoza said. 'We feel there are going to be enough at-bats for him here to keep him on the roster.' Poche, 31, began the season with Washington but was released on May 5 after having an 11.42 ERA in 13 relief appearances. The Mets signed him two days later, and his ERA was 7.11 in 12 games at Syracuse. Left-hander Richard Lovelady declined his outright assignment to Triple-A and became a free agent. Outfielder José Azócar accepted his assignment to Syracuse after clearing waivers. ___ AP MLB: recommended
