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Russell Abbott is in his first year as the women’s golf program’s first assistant coach. He began working at Virginia Tech on June 2, 2014.

Abbott, a member of the PGA of America, came to the Hokies from The Landings Club in Savannah, Georgia, where he had served as the first assistant golf professional since 2007. At The Landings, Abbott performed a wide-range of golf professional duties, including staff supervision, merchandising, running junior clinics, fitting clubs, running tournaments and group clinics and giving lessons.

During his time at The Landings, Abbott gave private lessons, using the V1 and Apple software videotaping, utilizing state-of-the-art technology to enhance the learning process. Virginia Tech women’s golf will employ similar technologies, including launch monitor systems. Abbott is also experienced with seven different golf club fitting systems, helping players better perform with properly fitted equipment.

“I had a few months to think about the type of assistant this budding program would need, ” Virginia Tech head women’s golf coach Carol Robertson said. “I am confident I found a great fit in Russell. He will not only be a great ambassador on the road recruiting, but a coach who can develop each individual player to reach their full potential.”

Abbott worked in banking from 2005-07, but was an assistant golf professional at Sea Palms Golf and Tennis Resort from 2002-05, where he was also involved in running tournaments and junior clinics and giving both private and large group lessons.

Abbott’s first job out of college was at Mercer University, where he was the assistant golf coach for both the men’s and women’s golf programs. His duties with the Bears included recruiting, running tournaments, instructing, training and working with the budget.

On the course, Abbott has a current USGA index of +0.5. He has several tournament victories in the East Chapter of the Georgia section of the PGA, plus a second place finish at the 2013 Georgia East Chapter Championship at Statesboro Country Club. He tied for second at the national 2013 Bridgestone Premier Invitational, hosted by Firestone Country Club. In 2013, he tied for ninth in the Georgia Assistant’s Division tournament at the East Lake Golf Club.

A 1999 graduate of Valdosta State with a degree in sports medicine, Abbott earned an MBA from Mercer in 2002 with a concentration in finance. He and his wife, Tiffany, have two sons, Brice (7) and Brandt (4).