OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University has hired Marie-Josee Desbiens as the coach of its three-time defending NAIA champion women’s golf program.

Desbiens spent the past eight years as assistant to Carol Ludvigson at Oklahoma. She was involved in all phases of the OU program including recruiting, fund-raising and strength and conditioning.

This past year, OCU became the first school to win three consecutive NAIA women’s golf championships.

“I’m really excited,” Desbiens said. “When you’re an assistant, you always want your own program. This is my chance.

“The thing that is most exciting is the opportunity to take on a program that has been so successful. My job is to continue that success and improve upon it as much as possible. I plan to be hands-on and to help our players perform to the best of their ability.”

During her tenure with the Sooners, Desbiens aided Oklahoma to the finest season in the program’s history in 2001-2002. OU finished sixth at the NCAA Championships and second at the Big 12 Championships that year. The Sooners also won the Big 12 in 2000.

Known as “M.J.,” Desbiens coached five all-conference golfers, including four-time all-Big 12 selection Lisa Meldrum. Desbiens has been a member of the LPGA Teaching Division since 1995.

“We’re thrilled to have somebody the caliber of M.J. to head our women’s golf program,” OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. “M.J. has proven success as a coach and teacher of the game, a recruiter and as a player herself.

“Women’s golf is important here at OCU, and I think M.J. will take us to new heights.”

As a player, Desbiens helped Oklahoma win the Big Eight championship in 1991. She was second on the team with a 78.8 scoring average in 1992-93. She played in the British Amateur Open in 1991.