Women's Golf | November 28

DeKALB, Ill.—Northern Illinois University Huskies women's head golf coach Kim Kester has signed Dakota Tallent for the 2024-25 season.  

Tallent is set to join the Huskies from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tallent is a three-time All-State honoree, earning second team recognition with two top-10 finishes in 2021 and 2022. She was the Freshman of the Year for Bishop Gorman in 2021 and took third at state as a senior with an average score of 78.6 strokes.  

Tallent played in the Nevada Regionals in back-to-back years and made three appearances at the Brophy Rodeo Invitational, winning in 2022 and 2023. Tallent was Bishop Gorman's highest finisher at the Brophy Rodeo Ping Invitational (2023), the Chappy Wheeler Invitational (2022), and the Walnut High School Tournament (2023). She has competed at the 123rd U.S. Women's Amateur Championship, Dayton (Ohio) Qualifier 81 and World Stars Nevada Open, among others.  

Tallent also competed on the Bishop Gorman's lacrosse team.  

Coach Kester on Dakota: "We are very excited to welcome Dakota to the Huskie golf family. We know she is going to have a great impact on the team and community here at NIU. Her skills and competitiveness are two qualities that stood out to us during her recruitment. She has had a very successful junior golf career, and we know that will continue at NIU." 

Tallent is the second player signed by Kester for 2024-25. She joins Alexa Ouellet (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) in the signing class.