The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Head Coach Susan Watkins
05.07.2007 | Women's Golf
Hometown: Corsicana, Texas
High School: Corsicana High School (Corsicana, Texas)
College: Texas, 1982
Only the second head coach in the history of The University of Texas women's golf program, Susan Watkins has upheld the Texas "tradition of excellence" as established by Pat Weis, the first women's golf coach at UT and Watkins' mentor.
Under Watkins, the Longhorns continue to rank among the nation's best, and are recognized for both their play on the course and their performance in the classroom. Entering her 14th season at the helm of her alma mater's golf squad, Watkins' teams have realized tremendous success in each of her 13 previous seasons, producing an impressive record of national and conference team and individual achievements.
In the collegiate golf circle, The University of Texas is considered a national power, which can be attributed directly to Watkins' teaching expertise, recruiting prowess and motivational abilities. Over the past 13 seasons, Watkins, a 1982 graduate of UT, has drawn the attention of the top junior players from around the nation to the Texas golf program.
Watkins has helped Texas register top-six finishes at five out of the last seven NCAA Championships, including one second-place finish (2002) and three third-place finishes (2000, 2001, 2003). Her Texas teams had seven consecutive Top 10 finishes at the national championships from 1998-2004, also tying for sixth in 2004, ninth in 1999 and placing 10th in 1998.
Once Watkins' golfers leave UT, they continue to enjoy success as professionals. Six of Watkins' former student-athletes currently are on professional golf tours: Heather Bowie (1995-97), Kristin Dufour (1998-2001), Kelli Kuehne (1996-97), Janice Olivencia (2000-04), Randi Meadows (1998-2001) and Jessica Reese (1999-2003).
Watkins' teaching credentials are exemplary. In addition to her instructional methods -- which provide Longhorns players with instant access to the intricacies of the game and the opportunity to improve their skills -- Watkins' philosophy of "to be the best, you must play the best" translates into a yearly schedule featuring competition at the top golf tournaments in the nation during both the fall and spring semesters.
Last season, Texas finished the season by placing 11th at the NCAA Central Regional Championship, falling nine strokes shy of earning a trip to the NCAA Championship. The Longhorns finished among the top 10 on three times out of 10 tournaments, including a third-place finish at the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic. Texas also placed seventh at both the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational and at the 2006 Big 12 Championship. Two Longhorns, senior Devan Andersen and junior Julia Best, earned individual spots at the NCAA Championship. Best tied for 83rd while Andersen finished tied for 110th at the national championship.
During the 2005 season, Watkins directed the Longhorns to top-five finishes in three of 11 events. Texas took runner-up at the Big 12 Championship and placed third at the Franklin Street Partners Invitational and the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational. Additionally, freshman Kelley Louth was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and seniors Lisa Ferrero and Perry Swenson tied for runner-up honors at the Big 12 Championships to earn First Team All-Big 12 accolades.
In 2004, Watkins directed the Longhorns to top-five finishes in five of 11 events, including two team victories. The Horns won their second event of the campaign, taking the Lady Northern, hosted by Ohio State at the OSU Scarlet Course in late September, defeating the Buckeyes by two strokes. Later in the season, Texas captured its second Big 12 Championship, winning the weather-shortened event by seven strokes over host Texas A&M. Additionally, senior Janice Olivencia, who claimed medalist honors at the Lady Northern with a victory on the second hole of sudden death, placed second at the conference tournament followed by junior Perry Swenson, who finished third.
Watkins was no newcomer to the Texas program when she returned to Austin 11 years ago for the 1993-94 campaign. The Corsicana, Texas, native joined the Longhorns' program in 1977 when she began her UT career as a member of the tennis team. Watkins' tennis career was short-lived, however, as she suffered a knee injury shortly after her arrival. Doctors informed her she would no longer be able to continue to compete at the high level demanded of Texas student-athletes. What appeared to be a promising tennis career was ended.
Yet, tennis' loss turned out to be the sport of golf's gain. Ever the optimist and looking for new challenges, Watkins asked former UT women's golf coach Pat Weis -- whom she succeeded as Longhorns coach -- to introduce her to the late Harvey Penick, the legendary former UT men's golf coach. Watkins' introduction to Penick began her career-long venture into golf.
Under Penick's expert eye, Watkins learned the game of golf rapidly and sharpened her game. Within a year, she showed such improvement that she was able to join Weis' Longhorns team as a walk-on. Watkins played for Texas for two seasons (1979-81) and continued to learn more about the game from Penick as she competed for UT. Upon graduation, she remained at The University and began her coaching career as a student assistant for Weis from 1981-82.
With her bachelor's degree in sport management in hand, Watkins left UT in 1982 and pursued a career teaching golf. She began her career as an assistant pro at the Austin Country Club where Penick resided as the director of golf and head teaching professional. Under the continued guidance of Penick and others, Watkins served her apprenticeship and specialized in individual instruction. At Austin Country Club, she began her career track by establishing an enthusiastic and loyal following, and cementing a reputation as an excellent teacher with an outgoing and energetic personality.
Watkins followed with professional teaching stops across the country, as she shared her teaching expertise with beginning golfers and touring professionals alike. Leaving Austin, she served as an assistant professional at Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas from 1985-90.
After Dallas, Watkins moved on to three other positions, serving as a teaching professional in several ideal locations. From 1990-93, Watkins was an instructor at the John Jacobs Golf School in Scottsdale, Ariz. From 1991-93, as the seasons allowed, Watkins split her time between Cherry Hills Country Club in Englewood, Colo., and Palm Valley Country Club in Palm Desert, Calif.
It was in 1993 that Watkins' career path came full circle, as she returned to the place -- The University of Texas -- where she first learned the game of golf. Fourteen years ago, upon the retirement of her former coach, Pat Weis, Watkins took over the reigns of the Longhorns golf program. In addition to her teaching pro positions at some of the nation's best golf and country clubs, Watkins has conducted PGA teaching workshops and seminars around the nation throughout her career.
What appeared to be the end of Watkins' promising collegiate tennis career in 1977 at Texas ironically turned out to be the beginning of her venture into the game of golf. Her passion and commitment to the game have led Watkins to establish her alma mater's golf program as a national contender in the 1990s and 2000s.
