Breaking news image- ecl

By S.A. Reid, Consulting Writer, Campus Life Communications

Earlier this year, Emory welcomed women’s golf for the first time as a varsity sport and Katie Futcher as head coach.

Futcher arrived in July after serving as an interim head coach and assistant at James Madison University and as a volunteer coach at Penn State, her alma mater, where she enjoyed an impressive career and was named an Academic All-American and scoring leader. Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Futcher spent nine successful years on the LPGA Tour.

Since joining Emory, Futcher has been busy setting a foundation and vision for the program and recruiting outstanding student-athletes in time for the 2019 season and in preparation for the NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Championships that the university will host in 2020. She also has managed to launch a club team that’s open to all interested students.

Coach Futcher recently shared some thoughts on her leadership and the future of women’s golf at Emory. Following is an edited version of what she had to say.
 Katie Futcher, head coach, women's golfKatie Futcher, head coach for Emory's new varsity women's golf program, intends to carry on the Eagle's tradition of nurturing outstanding student-athletes and bringing home national championships. 
Photo by JB Brown.

So how does it feel to be part of Emory’s athletics family?

It certainly is a family. I have had people from the Athletics Department and other parts of campus tell me that they are thrilled to have a women’s golf program and welcome me to Emory. The support has really been outstanding. It has been a great transition for me. I feel very welcomed.

What did you find so attractive about Emory Athletics and this opportunity that compelled you to accept the offer?

In coaching, the opportunity to build a program from the ground up is rare. So, for me, that was very enticing and a major reason I took the job.

What do you consider the inherent rewards and challenges in accomplishing that goal?

The biggest challenge is the limited time I have to build a competitive team for Emory’s 2019 inaugural season. I was hired July 23 and have until Nov. 1 to get to know prospective recruits and sign six to eight first-year students who are the right fit for our program athletically and academically. It almost feels like “shotgun” recruiting.

The rewards come with being able to lay a foundation, set the culture, and bring in the student-athletes that you want. These are all pretty cool positives about this experience.

Recruiting for the new team is already underway. Describe the prototypical prospective student-athlete that you are seeking to bring to Emory?

At Emory, the academic piece is so important. So first and foremost, I am looking for student-athletes who are bright and have performed well in the classroom over the course of their high school years. Certainly, I’m looking for student-athletes who are skilled in golf and have the right intangibles that will help them contribute positively to the team’s dynamics, culture, and success. They must be willing to work hard, keep an open mind, be inquisitive, and like to be challenged. Another major consideration is their ability to manage well the things that they can control, such as their attitude, work ethic, the intensity in practice, sleep, and nutrition. 

How has your past history prepared you for this moment and how will women’s golf benefit from your experience?

As a former intercollegiate and professional golfer, I can relate to what student-athletes are going through because I have been in their shoes. Another plus is that I find coaching very fulfilling. Anytime you have that kind of feeling about your work, it makes you better at your job.

The individual approach to the game that I witnessed on the LPGA Tour that has, along with freedom and autonomy, become a hallmark of my coaching style will be an asset to the team. Course management strategies and drills that I have learned along the way may also come in handy. Additionally, I am in the process of leveraging my relationships with professional women golfers to help raise money on behalf of our Emory program.

What is your take on the state of Division III women’s golf and how Emory’s move will impact it?

All three schools in our University Athletic Association – New York University, Carnegie Mellon, and Washington University in St. Louis – finished in the Top 10 at nationals last year. Although we only have four teams, including Emory, our conference is very strong. I think that Emory will be quite competitive very quickly and we will be a strong force in Division III on the national level because of the high caliber of student-athletes we will be able to able to attract.

Where does your passion for golf and coaching come from?

I did not play golf until I was 14, so I did not grow up thinking I would be a professional golfer or even coach golf. Professional golf is something that I just fell into. But today, coaching and helping people is my calling – and seeing players grow in the game is my reward.

Learn more:

Emory to add women's golf as an intercollegiate sport
http://news.emory.edu/stories/2018/05/er_athletics_golf_women/campus.html

Emory Names Katie Futcher Head Women's Golf Coach
http://www.emory.edu/CAMPUS_LIFE/news/stories/20180709_emory_names_katie_futcher_head_womens_golf_coach.html

Emory University Athletics: Academic Honors
http://emoryathletics.com/General/Academic_Honors