Once recruited by Kansas University, Megan Menzel now will be trying to attract top-notch talent of her own to KU.

The 27-year-old Menzel  a three-time all-conference golfer at the University of New Mexico after choosing the Lobos over KU as a Jenks (Okla.) High golf standout  on Friday was named the head women’s golf coach for the Jayhawks.

“It is a little ironic. I realize when you go through things like this what a small world it is,” Menzel said. “I was obviously impressed with Kansas the first time around. I’m thrilled to be a Jayhawk and am looking forward to becoming a part of Kansas’ outstanding tradition.”

Menzel, Colorado State’s coach the past two seasons, will replace Nicole Hollingsworth, who coached KU to three last-place finishes in the Big 12 the past three seasons.

Menzel knows all about KU’s tradition in sports. That’s because the former Oklahoma all-stater, who led New Mexico to three straight conference golf titles from 1994 to ’97, is acquainted with KU assistant basketball coach Joe Holladay.

Menzel actually worked for Holladay as a student aide a decade ago when Holladay was athletic director and basketball coach at Jenks High. Her brother played on Holladay’s team and Menzel was in the same graduating class as Holladay’s son, Matt.

“I owe him a lot. He sent me every day to practice golf instead of working for him as a sixth-hour aide,” Menzel quipped. “He claims we had a golf match five years ago and says he beat me. He promises we’ll play again. It’ll be a sad day for him,” she joked.

Holladay agreed.

“For me to beat her we’d have to blindfold her and make her play lefthanded,” he quipped.

“Megan will bring a lot of personality and a lot of energy to the women’s golf job,” Holladay added. “She is a fierce competitor. She was a gymnastics champion in Oklahoma through junior high. She took up golf her freshman year. I can remember her dad dropping her off at the golf course at 8 a.m. and him picking her up at 5 p.m. She’d golf all day. She will bring that same determination here.”

Menzel led Colorado State to its first-ever NCAA regional appearance in 2001, then repeated that feat this past season. In addition, she led the squad to a school-record three tournament victories over a two-year period and a second-place conference finish in 2001.

Menzel recruited the first individual Mountain West Conference champion to Colorado State and had two all-conference players in 2002. Menzel’s two squads led all CSU athletic teams in grade point average the last two years. Three of her golfers were named all-conference scholar athletes in 2001.

“I was very pleased with the number of quality candidates who applied for this position,” Janelle Martin, KU’s senior woman administrator, said of the 46 applicants. “I feel very fortunate that we were able to attract someone with such an impressive history as Megan has to the University of Kansas. She came in for a visit and hit it off with virtually everyone she met in our athletic department. Her personal accomplishments as a golfer  she knows what players are going through. The success she’s had is impressive and I think we haven’t see the best from Megan Menzel yet. The best is yet to come.”

In her one season at Boise State, Menzel led the squad to a fourth-place conference finish  its best ever  in 1999.

“I’m not familiar with our players (at KU) having participated in tournaments in the West the past couple seasons,” Menzel said. “I’m anxious to get to know our players. I’m sure there’s a lot of potential there. I think there’s a lot of opportunity. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think we can be competitive.

“We are going to focus on the future not about where we have been.”

Menzel and her husband, Craig, have a 4-month-old daughter, Kennedy.

“I am confident that Megan Menzel has the experience and leadership skills to move the women’s golf program at the University of Kansas forward in a positive fashion,” KU athletic director Al Bohl said. “She has an impressive record of achievement as a head coach and we are excited to have her join our coaching staff.”