Head Coach Jim Cheaney returned to USI after three years to take over the women's golf program in 2018-19. The former USI Men's Golf head coach (2012-15) is the fourth head coach in the history of the women’s golf program.
In the Eagles' first year in NCAA Division I athletics, Cheaney served as the first coach in program history to lead his team to an Ohio Valley Conference championship berth, placing sixth. During the inaugural season, Cheaney coached Baileigh Schneider to her first-career OVC Golfer of the Week honor after her season-best performance at The Julie.
In 2021-22, Cheaney led his group to a team championship in the 2021 Shriners’ Hospital For Kids Shootout where Katelynn Sayyalinh won her first career tournament. The Eagles finished in the top-half of five different tournaments, placing 13th in the GLVC Championships.
At the helm of the women's golf team, Cheaney has led the Eagles to a sixth place GLVC finish in 2018-19 and a ninth-place conclusion in 2020-21 after the 2019-20 league tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. He also helped guide Abbey Leighty to the NCAA II East Super Regional 34th-place finish in 2018-19.
In 2014-15, Cheaney saw two of men's golfers post 54-hole scores that rank in the top five all-time at USI, including Preston Van Winkle's school-record tally of 213 at The Buc.
Cheaney’s inaugural season at the helm (2012-13) of the men's golf program was highlighted by Logan Osborne earning a spot in the NCAA Division II Midwest/Central Regional and USI lowering its team scoring average by five strokes per tournament. The Eagles also finished in the upper half of the GLVC Championships, placing seventh.
Prior to taking over the USI program 2012, Cheaney directed the Mater Dei High School (Evansville, Indiana) boys team in 20011 and 2012. The Wildcats were sixth both seasons in the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference, while posting eighth and seventh place finishes at the IHSAA Sectionals in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
A part of Evansville amateur golf since the 1960s, Cheaney played for Evansville Rex Mundi High School and the University of Evansville. He also has played in the Evansville City Tournament over 40 times, winning the 2009 Evansville City Senior Golf Championship.
Cheaney also is the vice president and member of the board of directors for the Helfrich Men’s Golf Club. He won the club championship in 2007 and 2008.
The 1973 graduate from Evansville retired in 2010 after spending 32 years in the financial division of Mead Johnson & Company. Cheaney and his wife, Judy, have three children, Andrew Cheaney, Kristin Herrmann, and Matt Herrmann.
