New women's golf head coach hired

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Sutherland Named Head Women's Golf Coach At SMU
Coaching Legend Returns To Profession On The Hilltop

April 13, 2011

DALLAS (SMU) - Two-time regional Coach of the Year and four-time conference Coach of the Year Jeanne Sutherland has been named head coach of the SMU women's golf team, Director of Athletics Steve Orsini announced today. Sutherland, who spent 15 years at the helm of the Texas A&M women's golf program, has spent the last three years as head professional at Vail (Colo.) Golf Club.

"We are very excited to be able to add a coach with the experience and record of success that Jeanne has," said Orsini. "At SMU, we strive to be successful on a national level. There is a tradition of winning here - one we want to reestablish. We are committed to competing at the highest level and graduating our student-athletes and I am confident that Jeanne will help us reach these goals."

At A&M, Sutherland transformed the Aggie program into one of the nation's elite, becoming a mainstay in the top 25 national rankings and reaching postseason play in 13 of her 15 years as head coach. Prior to Sutherland's arrival at A&M, the Aggies had not won a tournament in seven years, but once she took the reins, the Aggies captured 13 tournament crowns and three Big 12 Conference titles.

In addition to the team's success, Sutherland's players earned individual honors. She led A&M golfers to three All-America honors, four individual conference titles, 22 regular-season individual titles, 25 All-Conference accolades, three conference Player of the Year awards, two Newcomer of the Year awards, 17 Academic All-America honors and 50 All-Conference Academic Team selections.

Sutherland has been honored by her peers as conference coach of the year four times. In 1995, she was named Southwest Conference coach of the year after leading the Aggies to a second-place league finish, and in 1997, Sutherland was named Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year and NCAA West District Coach of the Year after A&M finished as conference runner-up and qualified for the NCAA Championships. Sutherland again was named Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2006 after A&M captured the league crown and then ended her run in College Station in 2007 with an NCAA Central Region Coach of the Year award, another Big 12 Coach of the Year crown, a team conference championship and a No. 14 ranking by Golfweek.

"I am very excited to accept this position at SMU," said Sutherland. "SMU is a great school and the golf program has the potential to be among the best in the nation. With the talent already in place and a summer focused on recruiting, we will begin our move toward greatness immediately."
Sutherland was an assistant professional at Vail GC before accepting the A&M coaching position in 1992.

A native of Dubuque, Iowa, Sutherland played college golf at the University of Northern Iowa, where she earned All-America honors as a sophomore after placing third at the AIAW Division II National Championships and leading the team to a third-place finish. In 1983, she placed 13th at nationals and paced the team to a fifth-place performance.

Sutherland received a bachelor's degree in English/teaching with a minor in coaching from UNI in 1983. She served as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Iowa in 1987-89 while earning a master's degree in physical education/athletic administration.

In 1997, Sutherland was inducted in the University of Northern Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame as well as the Dubuque (Iowa) High School Athletics Hall of Fame.

A PGA Class A professional, Sutherland also has taught at the renowned John Jacobs Golf Schools.

[HorsePower]

Sounds like an accomplished coach.
Welcome to the Hilltop, Coach!

[mustangbill67]

Wonder why she left the AGs in 2007. She was obviously one of the best coaches in the country at the time. Seems like a real coup for SMU.

[buckwheat]

Interesting hire, looks like a good fit though. Sure it would be tough leaving Vail.
Time for the womens program to step it up!

[DallasDiehard]

Welcome, Coach!