DeKALB — Women’s golf Head Coach Kim Kester has announced the signing of Dakota Tallent. Tallent will join NIU in the 2024-2025 season. 

“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,” Kester said in an NIU Athletics press release. “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 comes to NIU from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tallent has achieved All-State honoree three times and merited second team recognition after finishing top 10 in 2021 and 2022. In 2021, Tallent earned Freshman of the Year for Bishop Gorman and as a senior, placed third at state by an average score of 78.6 strokes. 

Tallent won two out of the three times she appeared at the Brophy Rodeo Invitational with wins in 2022 and 2023. Tallent was a top finisher for Bishop Gorman at the Brophy Invitational and the Walnut High School tournament in 2023 as well as the Chappy Wheeler Invitational in 2022. Tallent has played in various amateur and junior tournaments, including the World Stars Nevada Open, Qualifier 81 and the 123rd U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in Dayton, Ohio. Tallent has also competed at the Nevada Regionals. 

Tallent was the second player signed for the 2024-2025 season, joining Alexa Ouellet from Toronto, Ontario.