Sport Opener image Field

Emory Names Katie Futcher Head Women's Golf CoachEmory University Athletics Director Dr. Michael Vienna has announced the appointment of  Katie Futcher as the school’s first-ever head women’s golf coach.  Emory will begin women’s golf as an intercollegiate sport starting in 2019. Futcher will begin her duties at Emory on July 23. 

Futcher comes to Emory after spending 2017-18 as a member of the James Madison University coaching staff.  She was an assistant from July of 2017 through February of 2018, before being appointed Interim Head Coach, a post she held until June.  She helped the Dukes to a fourth-place finish out of 16 teams at the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate and a fourth-place effort in the 12-team field at the Battle of Boulder Creek II in Nevada. Futcher mentored Laura Gomez-Ruiz to First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors after setting a school single-season scoring average record. 

Prior to James Madison, Futcher spent one year as a volunteer coach at her alma mater, Penn State, following a nine-year career on the LPGA. After qualifying for the LPGA Tour in just her second attempt, Futcher would go to compete in more than 25 major championships and 120 events while earning Class A status with the LPGA. In 2012, she made 18 cuts in 23 events and posted a pair of top-10 finishes including ties for eighth at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open and the RICOH Women’s British Open.

Futcher was named a LPGA Board Player representative as voted by her fellow players.  Her duties included quarterly board and subcommittee meetings as well as direct interaction with the tour commissioner and LPGA business and tournament operations. 

“We are excited to have Katie as our head coach as we begin women’s golf at Emory,” stated Dr. Vienna.  “She has an impressive background as a player and coach, and we are looking forward to her developing a vision for the program as we strive to become a premier program, both in the University Athletic Association and nationally.  An Academic All-American as a collegian, she is aware of the importance of academics in the student-athlete experience, which will aid in her recruiting outstanding young women who demonstrate excellence in both areas.”

Futcher enjoyed a memorable career at Penn State, ranking as the Nittany Lions’ scoring leader all four years while playing her way to a pair of NGCA All-America berths.  A two-time All-Big Ten honoree, as a senior she qualified to compete in the 2003 NCAA D-I Championships. She was the female recipient of Penn State’s Ernest B. McCoy Award, presented to the best athlete who has shown commitment to academics, athletics andcommunity

"I am thrilled about the opportunity to build the women’s golf program at Emory," Futcher said.  "I would like to thank Dr. Vienna and Joyce Jaleel for their support and trust. I know Emory will attract talented and driven student athletes. It is my goal to develop balanced student athletes that improve at the game of golf and contend for national championships. I am honored to represent Emory, a school with a rich history of academic and athletic excellence, and am really excited to join Eagle nation! Fly Higher!"

Futcher graduated from Penn State in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences.