DOVER, Del. — Delaware State University Director of Athletics Tony Tucker announced today the appointment of Sherri Pla as head coach of the Hornets’ women’s golf program. A PGA and LPGA professional with more than two decades of elite playing and coaching experience, Pla arrives at Delaware State with a rare blend of competitive pedigree, operational expertise, and a track record of developing student-athletes on the course and in the classroom.
Pla is one of only eight percent of female PGA Professionals certified in both Golf Operations and Instruction. A former LPGA Symmetra Tour professional, she competed at the NCAA Division I level at Florida Atlantic University, where she is an Athletics Hall of Fame member. Most recently, she served as Assistant Coach and Director of Instruction at Alabama State University, where she helped guide the women’s program to a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship.
“Sherri Pla is a proven winner and exactly the kind of leader we want building our women’s golf program,” said Tucker. “She has competed at the highest levels of the game, she has coached a championship team, and she develops young people the right way — with a genuine commitment to their growth as students and as athletes. She also comes to us from a fellow HBCU, so she understands our mission and our student-athletes. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the Hornet Family.”
Beyond her competitive resume, Pla brings a deep background in player development and recruiting, with roots in the South Florida junior golf community that have sent numerous athletes on to the collegiate level. A Florida-certified mathematics instructor, she is known for a holistic approach that pairs athletic development with academic success. She is also fluent in modern golf performance technology, with certifications and hands-on experience across today’s leading launch-monitor, swing-analysis, and putting systems.
“I am truly honored and humbled to join the Delaware State University family and lead the women’s golf program,” said Pla. I want to sincerely thank Athletic Director Tony Tucker and the entire search committee for believing in my vision and entrusting me with this opportunity. I am excited to build a championship culture that develops outstanding student-athletes both on the golf course and in the classroom. I look forward to recruiting exceptional young women who will represent Delaware State with pride, integrity, and excellence. The future is incredibly bright, and I am excited to begin this journey together.”
A nationally recognized coach, Pla is an African American Golf Hall of Fame member and was featured in the CBS documentary “Turning Passion into Profession.” Her honors include multiple South Florida PGA awards for player and youth golf development, and she has guided junior teams to conference, district, and regional championships, as well as national championship competitions. As a player, she was a 2007 Florida long-drive champion and carried her competitive career onto the professional tour.
Pla will be formally introduced to the Delaware State community at a later event, but she begins her duties immediately.
About Delaware State University Athletics
Delaware State University, a historically Black university located in Dover, DE, competes at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The Hornets field 21 varsity programs serving more than 460 student-athletes, and is committed to competitive excellence, academic achievement, and the holistic development of every student-athlete. For more information, visit dsuhornets.com.
